Why Twiggy’s “IPL of rugby” won’t work

To those that say we should give it a rest and we have been out of order in the way we have dealt with this I say you are blind and obviously like most one eyed in your view of the situation. There has been people who have been genuine in their feelings of course, but to say it has only been people from WA who have been on the offensive in the past about the loss of their team and attacking other supporters is disingenuous we have also copped from supporters of other franchises equally. Now that we have lost our team the attitude will be different again. Supporters from the east can sit knowing they have a team and just want to move on - fair enough, but where do we go being one of if not the most isolated cities in the world. Contributors on this site have labelled us sooks etc but then you can do that from a sense of power still having your team meaning in a sense you are bullying and baiting supporters from WA. I understand you have your view point but then so do we and we should be allowed to express it. It’s called freedom of speech. I’m all for constructive debate, but in the true sense of the word the RA has been destructive, they have first beheaded WA draw card and slashed and burned WA fuelling it’s near extinction with the lies and deceit that has been released in the media, senate inquiry and evidence provided by people in the know. The Ra themselves suggested supporting wa through this tough time and at no time has this been evident. They toss aspersions at private people like Twiggy Who offered assistance and fluff offf help with ‘its all too late!’ Phrases. Fact is they have never really tried or supported rugby and I think i’m being unfair to RA because really it’s the individuals who sit under the banner of RA who are at fault. IPRC is a brain child of hope that was to come out of the ashes of rugby representation in WA while growing the sport world wide in regions it had not ventured before at a pro level. The fact is i’m not sure what RA are frightened of as it would allow players more opportunities at all levels with growth of player development only being for the better allowing those who did not get an opportunity elsewhere to step up and show off their wares.

Message from Hodgson: the IPRC with their not invented here mentality will not allow the IPRC to succeed. WA need to resign from Rugby Australia and go their own way. There is no future for WARugby in Australia with the incompetent executive and ARU Board in charge. None of this is in the press as usual! To All Rugby Fans and Rugby Lovers in WA It is with great disappointment that I write to tell you we are going to have to postpone our Rugby Community event on the 10th of December. We have now hit a major road block with Rugby Australia in relation to the endorsement of the Indo Pacific Rugby Championship. We are continuing negotiations, but the current Rugby Australia position is so uncommercial and unreasonable that it ensures the failure of the IPRC before it even starts. We have been trying to meet with the Chair of the Rugby Australia working group but he is unavailable till next week even at this critical time. It remains obvious to us after three months of continuous negotiations that Rugby Australia doesn’t have the best interest of the Western Australian rugby community at heart. Rugby Australia’s demands include money to support East coast based programs rather than supporting the WA community, even as they are crippling our local rugby infrastructure. We will not be sending any more money over east, our money will remain for our people and to grow our game in Western Australia. We are not giving up – far from it. We will be moving the event to the new year to have a greater build up and focus on the celebration of the Rugby Community of Western Australia. Please rest assured that the future of rugby in Western Australia is at the forefront of our minds and we are taking this time to sit down with Rugby WA, Rugby Juniors and Future Force and plan what the future will look like It is my personal endeavour to make sure the people of Western Australia have rugby in their lives from the U6 playing his or her first game, through the 1st grade debutants and those aspiring to be representative and professional players, to the myriad of volunteers who are the heart and soul of our clubs. As a professional rugby player, who is now not only a fan but also a coach and father, I know how important the game is to people. I will be doing everything I can to give the rugby community a positive future. The professionalism and enthusiasm that has mobilised behind our efforts to save WA rugby is beyond anything I have seen in all my years involved with the sport. I look forward to working with everyone to continue making rugby a success in WA. Please maintain the hope and strength that makes the Sea of Blue the formidable force that has always fuelled rugby in this state. We have never backed down and remain strong because we have the biggest heart and passion for our game. Thank you for your support. Every word and sign of support motivates us to keep fighting for what we know is right and for the game that we all love. Hodgo

you question it but don't make any strong arguments..just devil's advocate type stuff..

Well said GusTee....... Expect some big announcements before a Sea of Blue Force fan day at McGilvray Oval, Perth from both RugbyWA plans for 2018 and IPRC developments on 10 December 2017.

Yep ok -no worrie TWAS. Was just wondering where the 10pm game came into that’s all maybe piru can enlighten me. I’m just wondering why they’d play at 10

I have just read the 174 comments posted so far on this topic. So much analysis but, with respect, no real direction. The essential element is that the ARU has forgotten that it is the custodian of the game of rugby union in Australia as a whole and has derogated its responsibility to rugby union stakeholders across our nation. The ARU took rugby in Australia to the expanded SR competition against good advice and in doing so stretched Australian player resources and State funds to the limit and produced an unpalatable product for television audiences. When it had the chance to repair the local damage it failed to exercise its veto to the detriment of its national footprint. All the while, the ARU poured funds into the Rebels rather than allocating them fairly to all States and almost bankrupted itself. Then in a knee jerk reaction the ARU abandoned the West in a stopgap measure and spun a web of intrigue to save face. The central issues in Australian rugby are the lack of integrity.at the top, limited financial resources and the absence of "managers" who understand the ethos of rugby. Mr Forrest has the money and is imbued with the traditions of our game. He also has the ability to recognise the value of good men and the need to reward those qualities. Cameron Clyne's ego is too big for the good of rugby in Australia and in consequence the "resource" that Mr Forrest may have presented to Australian rugby has been lost. In achieving that loss the ARU now faces competition and hence it appears to be dragging its feet in its acceptance of the IRPC. Until Cameron Clyne is removed from the chair of the ARU (RAU/WHORU) Australian rugby union cannot recover. The West currently has nothing left in professional rugby terms, not even a Test to watch in our State in 2018. It has been given no vision for the future by the ARU. Without doubt, Mr Forrest's IRPC vision appears to be radical. However, he and his team believe that they understand the region they wish to enter and what is needed to bring their plans to fruition. We in the West are extremely lucky to have someone who is trying to keep us on the map. I, therefore, await the next IRPC announcement with great anticipation.

Just to clarify...... Force Fan is not the usual ForceFan who publishes Ruck Involvement stats from time to time. Great to be a Rookie.....

The Force didn't fail TWAS - the ARU failed the Force. Big difference

Piru's comment that I'm directly responding too...

Keep fighting the good fight guys. Looking forward to supporting the comp. I'm all for rugby growing, not contracting.

Where did 10pm game times come from TWAS? In what time zone are you suggesting it will be played at 10pm? Just curious as this makes no sense to me! Do you mean playing at local time or do you mean TV viewing by People in Asia or Perth? Just not sure how 10pm comes into it!

I think you are mistaken. When did they say they needed to approve the put option? They claimed to have been unaware of the deal going through. They said in the senate they didn't approve to approve it and the article specifically does not mention them approving it or needing to.

I will be there! Some fun for the kids too. This must be what inclusive grass roots program looks like.

I am not excusing the lies. I have become numb to them now and just don't believe anything they say. I read between the lines and lies and ask myself why are they saying this, what is their angle, who are they trying to manipulate this time and why is nobody in the media calling them out on it. A few inches in a Perth newspaper is a long way from a headline.

the ARU specifically said they did aka they lied

Need to work on your delivery then

"I’m just having the hide to disagree with people proclaiming that this competition will be a great success by virtue of countries having a lot of people." No. Numerous posters have told you very clearly how Rugby is played in Asia, in some countries it is well established. We are not proclaiming this competition purely because of the population BUT because the sport is already played in significant numbers in the country! 100 000 registered players in Sri Lanka 70 000 in China 40 000 in Malaysia 15 000 in Thailand

It still isn't really legally possible. It's a restraint that will impact the careers of the individuals as they will come at a higher cost than others. Providing a career is the only way to combat it.

Where did I say it was a non-rugby stronghold? I said it commercially is unable to support professional rugby. Is that debatable? Who was recruited from Fiji? Koribete was in Australia when he came to rugby. Speight was recruited from Mitre 10 Cup. Naivalu came here on a religious mission program. Kuridrani and Kerevi grew up in Australia.

It was a joke buddy. Take it easy. If either were reading I'd say they'd know it was me based on my response. Not that they would be. I doubt Fai reads the Roar and doubt Mak reads...