Rugby Australia’s decision to waive the Super Rugby salary cap to allow teams to absorb Western Force players is “economic madness”, NSW Waratahs chairman Roger Davis says.
Rugby Australia promised to honour the contracts of the Force players after the Perth-based franchise was axed from Super Rugby for financial reasons.
While the limits on the $5 million salary cap and 30 squad numbers have been temporarily lifted during a “transition” stage, Rugby Australia has not increased the $5 million grants to the Super Rugby teams.
“The salary cap was grounded in economic reality and that was basically what you could afford to pay and still be profitable,” Davis said.
“It was a common sense cap. You get (Rugby Australia) top-ups over and above that, I understand that, but it was a common sense cap and it provided disciplines for the Super Rugby clubs to operate in so they could have a better chance of becoming profitable.
“Well, you’ve just thrown that out the door. The imperative for financial discipline is now removed.
“This is just economic madness. It will be a sugar hit and a couple of years down the line you are going to find reality will set in.”
The Super Rugby clubs had expected the Force players and funding to be redistributed equitably among the four remaining teams.
However, the bulk of the players have followed coach Dave Wessels to the Melbourne Rebels, including star second-rower Adam Coleman, while the Force’s $5 million grant has been allocated to community rugby next year.
On top of this, the Rebels have signed Wallabies halfback Will Genia to a lucrative contract, which means last season’s captain Nic Stirzaker will be a bench player.
Ironically, the Rebels got into serious financial trouble when Rugby Australia allowed the 2011 expansion franchise to recruit up to 10 foreign players, who were not included in the salary cap, blowing their budget from the outset.
“The idea was to have four strong sides. That is why the talented was supposed to be reallocated,” Davis said.
“Most of the players have gone to Melbourne, which is really disappointing. I understand why the Force players have gone. They have stuck with their coach.
“None of us expected we would get money in 2018 but in 2019 you do the maths.
“Five million between four sides is $1.25 million per state. Hopefully, in 2019 we’ll see the release of this.”
Kane
Guest
So how does Folau qualify as a rest capped foreigner
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Who cares about wall to wall. Unless people watch it, its worthless. And considering you are avoiding the original question, I'm guessing it's not a popular viewing time for rugby.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Yes to both Genia and Cooper but at different clubs from 2016. The $150,000 marquee-player clause applied only to Test-capped foreign players. From next year, the ARU will allow Australia's five Super Rugby teams to use the clause in two more scenarios: if they are bringing home an overseas-based Wallaby, or recruiting a player from another code. Genia at rebels is on $150k, since he was from o/s. Reds could be applying it to Cooper if he is their most expensive recruit since he was attracted back from Toulon. Brumbies may be able to apply it to Pocock if they contracted it smartly since he played in japan during his sabbatical. In your haste to believe Tahs get a special deal you should perhaps do some research instead.
Bakkies
Guest
Oz Rugby is already suffering due to foreign players as there were at least four foreign flyhalfs playing Super Rugby in Australia this year who are unable to be selected for the Wallabies. Super Rugby isn't working. SA Rugby and Australian Rugby are both run by cowboys and are losing players hand over fist to overseas clubs. Each country apart from NZ who have been able to have five teams from day one have their own vested interests which have led to poor compromises.
Bakkies
Guest
It is for Football as no live Football can be televised from 2:45 to 5:15 so they have early kickoffs. As for Rugby the Force games allow the broadcaster to televise wall to wall Rugby from breakfast to midnight
Bakkies
Guest
Didn't the Rabble get more funding then the Tahs despite the top ups?
Train Without A Station
Guest
Only if they didn’t have other marquee players at the time.
Kane
Guest
So other top players in the past such as Genia Cooper et al only cost the red $150k each and the rest of their salary was made up of top ups?
Ex force fan
Guest
Bit rich of the best funded team to complain, but it is already clear that the ARU will spend the money they were supposed to safe by axing the Force true to form.
Train Without A Station
Guest
So unlike Australia, midday is a big TV viewing time in the UK?
PeterK
Roar Guru
any club he chose to play for. The rule tahs used applies to all clubs and isn't special for them.
Kane
Guest
In terms of a leg up how many other clubs would get the opportunity to have the services of Australia's best player at a cost of just $150k?
Bakkies
Guest
Yes TWAS as I know you haven't west of Footscray. The Force home gave the broadcasters (the same broadcasters that coughed up extra money) more Rugby leading in to the afternoon games from SA and Europe
Train Without A Station
Guest
Midday was a key time slot for TV viewers?
Bakkies
Guest
If they spend it on knifing de Clyde and Davis then I am all for it
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
The Force cost them less than $6.2-6.7M a year?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah mate. 12 semi pro clubs in metropolitan Sydney is the grassroots! That's the coal face mate!
Train Without A Station
Guest
Davis is being deliberately misleading to sell a point. Unlike the Sydney blazer brigade... Not all Force players have contracts for 2018. Not all Reds, Waratahs, Brumbies and Rebels squads were filled for 2018. What that means is a portion of the Force squad for 2017 needs to fit into a certain amount of remaining spots in the other 4 franchises. Matt Hodgson as out of contract, so there’s 1 less players. TPN also. So now that’s 2. Stander makes 3. Van Wyk is 4. Faulkner 5. Scoble is 6. Matijow is 7. Koteka is 8. RHP is 9. Prior is 10. Louwrens is 11. Grant is 12. Burton is 13. Brache is 14. Philip is 15. Morahan is 16. Maserwa is 17. So there’s 17 Force players who are not on contracts for 2018 that need to fit into existing spots if they are signed. But many of the remaining players have been signed to existing spots. DHP replaces Jonah Placid at the Rebels. Bill Meaks replaces Mitch Inman. Richard Hardwick replaces Jordy Reid. RHP replaces Sean McMahon. Anaru Rangi replaces Pat Leafa. Jono Lance replaces either Volavola or JGB etc. Then at the Brumbies Naisarani replaces Smiler for example. The reality if anything will be salary creep as some player replace others who had smaller contracts. But hey, that’s not going to stop people portraying it as 30+ additional players being spread across full squads despite the fact it’s nowhere near the case.
Bakkies
Guest
Surely they would have wound their necks in when they saw the figures that stated that the Force cost the RA far less than they thought
Train Without A Station
Guest
Yeah. And in defence of other teams, they had certainty they’d be around next year, so they couldn’t wait to see what happened as they’d always need a squad. The Rebels could wait because if the Force weren’t gone, they would be and would not need any players. The benefit of the less security in their position was they could take a higher risk strategy.