Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver is prepared to face irate Western Force fans at next week’s Wallabies Test in Perth.
Pulver confirmed on Tuesday that he will attend the Rugby Championship clash with South Africa at nib Stadium on Saturday week.
By that time Force fans are expected to know whether or not Rugby WA has been successful in its Supreme Court appeal against the ARU decision to axe the Force from Super Rugby.
Rugby WA president Hans Sauer has already urged Force fans to wear their team’s blue colours – not Wallaby gold – to the match in protest, while predicting others will boycott it.
“I will be over there (in Perth) to watch our game against South Africa and I dare say a couple of Western Force fans will sidle up beside me, so I can look forward to that,” said Pulver at the National Rugby Championship season launch in Sydney.
Pulver expected the outcome of Rugby WA’s appeal to be delivered beforehand, but remained adamant removing the Force was the right decision.
The appeal follows the intervention of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest who last week offered to provide financial backing to save the Force and for “the future of rugby”.
Pulver welcomed the late offer, but indicated money was not the only factor in cutting the force to leave Australia with four Super Rugby teams from next season.
“There are a couple of dimensions (to Forrest’s offer) – the first is timing,” Pulver said.
“We are way down the track having made commitments to (governing body) SANZAAR (South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentine Rugby) to go to four teams, and having had an EGM where our members voted to go to four teams.
“I wish he had been involved in the process a little earlier. That would have been helpful.”
Pulver, however, welcomed potential player development investment from Forrest.
“There are plenty of opportunities to add to the player development pathway so if he has investment ideas we would love to talk to him,” he said.
“If Mr Forrest is looking to invest in Australian rugby that is a wonderful thing.”
Pulver said that the Wallabies’ outstanding performance in a last-gasp 35-29 defeat by the world champion All Blacks in New Zealand last Saturday – following the record 54-34 loss to them the previous week – was evidence the team has a bright future.
“I think we all get the sense there is a great young playing group there ripe for development, and (coach) Michael Cheika is going to bring them along very well,” Pulver said.
“Michael has blooded something 17-18 new caps in the last year and a half.
“To see them push the number one team in the world – arguably the best of all time – was very encouraging.
“It is a team in development but there are some very good early signs.”
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
once again I'm not the one not realising what I've written. .. you're the one talking about ' create a domestic comp…?' .... all I'm saying is you've already got one
stagman
Guest
Will fly across from Syd on Qantas Business Class, be driven around Perth in a flash car with a driver, will stay at a 5 Star Hotel, will wine and dine the South African Rugby bosses, then fly back to Syd on Qantas Business Class.............while still maintaining that the decision to cut the Force was due to the financial issues and that the ARU can't support them (even though the Rebels have cost them the most). Lies, lies, lies.................and even more lies!!!!!!!!!
stagman
Guest
I hope this clown gets hits by a bus...........3 times!!!!!!!!
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
So of course he's going to walk out in the middle of nib with a microphone and explain to the fans! Of course not. He'll sneak into a Corporate Box with the type of tossers who wear a suit to a footy game.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
Sydney is no longer the epi-centre of Australian Rugby. Just the home of incompetence.
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
VIPs enter via Gate 3 (the one behind the old stand on the South West corner of nib.
Sanbacca
Guest
Shouldn't that be de-clyne?
Sanbacca
Guest
The vibe out of the WA rally held the weekend before last is that we don't support the culling of any team. I don't see how the culling of any team and having less players playing Super Rugby and gaining important experience at a higher level is going to increase the talent pool that the Wallabies can choose from, particularly since so many of them are going overseas to chase the money. Sure the Australian Super teams didn't beat any Kiwi teams this year but the British & Irish Lion didn't beat many of them either! What I find exceptional in all of this debate is that none of the other Super Rugby teams have come out in support of the Force - why? Because they want the rich pickings of the Force team to improve their own and because they don't want to have to travel to WA.
Why must SARU comply with reducing their teams in Super Rugby and split their players amongst four squads? They aren't accountable to SANZAAR as to what happens to their players. The fact that they thought nd planned ahead as to wht happens to the teams being cut was forward thinking, something SARU should be complimented about. They made it easy for the SANZAAR agreement to comply by reducing their teams. The fact that there are opportunities for them to increase revenue and hopefully retain more players locally is to their benefit and has f all to do with SANZAAR
andrewM
Guest
"Nobody has provided tangible proof of the Rebels deals actually… They are pure speculation…" That is part of the problem TWAS - there are big bloody holes in the ARU's accounts that even an amateur sleuth found (Good Work Alison!). Imagine what a qualified investigator could find!
andrewM
Guest
i concur, the SARU have not complied in spirit with their side of the bargain, so at the very least it gives the ARU a Get out of Jail card. Twiggy's offer should have made this decision a no-brainer, regardless of the outcome of the court action.
In brief
Guest
mme..
In brief
Guest
Doesn't sound that black and white to me. As we all know the law is an ass and expediency is always a real factor I.e. we don't agree with this course o action but we have no choice.
In brief
Guest
There is unprecedented consumer loss of confidence and the real possibility of long term financial pain from this ARU charade.
In brief
Guest
I thought you had clarified it was a legal decision based on contract law, not finances?
In brief
Guest
As an east coast boy I'm not willing to kiss goodbye to 20% of the country's playing base, are you?
In brief
Guest
No the only people who would support such short term decisions are bankers like O'Neil who scrapped the ARC and set Aust rugby back 10 years.
In brief
Guest
If true, why didn't they tell the rest of us? Is it ok to mislead?
Milan
Guest
All the money and eyeballs are on football actually mate lol
Milan
Guest
Rex, if you have the temerity to disagree with Piru or Bakkies then your opinion is worthless. It's goodbye to free speech as far as those clowns are concerned