In the first major rugby news of the year, Rugby Australia have splashed the cash in a new Collective Bargaining Agreement which will see pay increases for Super Rugby, Rugby Sevens and female players.
The deal sees an increase in the squad sizes of Super Rugby teams, and an increase in the salary cap to accommodate, more than likely to offset, the demise of the Western Force and the 30 players who were left without contracts by rehousing the better ones across the four remaining franchises. Although it still sort of feels like most of the Force squad just ended up going to the Rebels.
Female players will now earn the same as their male counterparts on the sevens circuit, and will be paid for Test appearances for the first time. However, at this stage, there are still no plans to pay players competing in the soon to be launched Super W competition which seems, well, amateur.
Rugby is a contact sport and players – at the elite levels especially – put their bodies on the line. If the Super W competition generates so much as a dollar of revenue from advertising or broadcasts – and I plan to watch it if I can – then that dollar must be divided up between the stakeholders, with the players getting a cut of it.
The new CBA cuts players (the ones who are getting paid) in on 29 percent of revenue – about the same as Australia’s cricketers get under their new deal.
While it’s great for the players involved and for those Force players who had the rug pulled from under them, like anything with Rugby Australia caution should be exercised whenever money is spent.
Bear in mind that the justification for cutting the Force was supposedly because running the fifth franchise was sending the game broke, and the money saved would, in turn, be funnelled into grassroots development so maybe one day we wouldn’t lose to the New Zealand-based teams every single time.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Since the axing of the Force, the only noteworthy news items out of HQ, with the exception of Raelene Castle replacing Bill Pulver and anything related to Karmichael Hunt, have been this pay deal and the completely unnecessary (and incredibly expensive) re-brand from the Australian Rugby Union to Rugby Australia. Neither of which really align with the promises and reasoning behind the Force decision.
The re-brand reeks of the corporate equivalent of entering the witness protection program. Change the name and the logo and hopefully leave all of your troubles behind.
“Aren’t you that organisation that haemorrhages money and couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery?”
“Oh my, no, you’re thinking of the Australian Rugby Union. We’re Rugby Australia – see, it says so right there on the sign.”
2017 was the darkest of times for the game in this country since rugby went professional – possibly ever. 2018 needs to bloody good.
The new CBA is a good one for all parties, though in time I’d like to see the maximum Super Rugby squad sizes come back down again – the whole point of cutting the fifth team was because the talent was spread too thin and we were paying too many guys who weren’t really good enough. Wasn’t it? No, wait. It was for development. Or because they were sending us broke. Or was it that we needed that cash for other stuff like the re-brand?
Anyway, with the ARU – *ahem* – sorry, Rugby Australia, always question everything.
On to 2018, where the game of rugby rises like a phoenix! Or burns like a phoenix.
Ex force fan
Guest
Chris, her comment that she will visit Perth for two days to "really engage" with the community and then in the same breath state that "she was not part of the Force decision and expect WA to draw a line and move on". She is not interested to really engage, she is coming to Perth not to listen to the community but to tell WA to suck it up! That is Pulver and Cly e in a dress. No change and another tumultuous 2018 is on the way with ARU/RA clearly on a path to split up.
Ex force fan
Guest
Yes Perth WA should not even be in Australia...... That is Rugby East Australia's view as well, with the exception that we can milk them for GST, export, taxes and rugby players....
Bakkies
Guest
Not a bother CS it's when it appears on here. Super Rugby is definitely a trial for the ABs and the Wallabies.
Concerned Supporter
Guest
Mate, The article appeared in today's press Cut and paste
Art
Guest
I doubt anything about the article Above will appear on the roar. They tend to censor anything like that.
concerned supporter
Guest
Super Rugby is glorified Trial Matches for the Wallabies.
concerned supporter
Guest
Hi Bakkies, Sorry, I repeated your blog on ASIC. Let us Rugby plebs"" sincerely hope that ASIC will come on strong against the misleading & deceptive way that the ARU Board went about in culling the Western Force. The engineering seems to have been the work of Mr C. Clyne with help from Bill Pulver.
concerned supporter
Guest
Western Force Australian Securities and Investment Commission to examine Melbourne Rebels dealings Nick Taylor | PerthNow January 14, 2018 3:34PM SENSITIVE information has been handed to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission as it investigates Rugby Australia’s dealings with the Melbourne Rebels before axing the Western Force from Super Rugby. The detail, that was not publicly revealed to the Senate inquiry into the culling of the Force, was requested by the corporate watchdog. And in another twist it can be revealed the Victorian Government guaranteed Rugby Australia $4.5 million to channel to the Rebels if they promised to keep the club in Melbourne. It is understood information sent to ASIC raises questions about RA board decision-making and whether it was able to make informed choices with the information presented. It suggests the board may not have been given all information about deals with New Zealand businessman Andrew Cox before he was sold the licence for $1 three years ago and his sale of the club to the Victorian Rugby Union in August last year for the same price that effectively ended the Force's future. ASIC is also assessing whether the board was fully informed of a rival offer led by former Rebels foundation member Alan Winney. Meanwhile The Sunday Times has obtained the Special Funding Agreement between RA and the Rebels that handed them $4.5 million over two years. The confidential document, signed by RA’s outgoing chief executive Bill Pulver and chairman Cameron Clyne, and Rebels chairman Tim North and director Owen Stone, is dated October 6, one month after the Force was chopped. It says ARU (now RA) had negotiated a funding agreement with Visit Victoria in support of Test matches in Victoria from 2020-2025. “Further, the VV Agreement provides additional funding for the ARU in the amount of $4.5 million in connection with the continued participation of the Melbourne Rebels as a Victorian-based team in the Super Rugby competition. “ARU will pay the Rebels Funding into a bank account owned and controlled by MRRUL (Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union Ltd) as nominated by MRRUL to ARU. “ARU will pay the Rebels Funding to MRRUL in the following instalments: (i) $3,000,000 on execution of this Agreement; (ii) $1,000,000 on the first anniversary of the execution Agreement; (iii) $500,000 on the second anniversary of the execution of this Agreement.” It was revealed in The West Australian last September that a submission was given to the Senate inquiry detailing secret talks between RA and the Victorian Government. The submission said RA planned to use money from Visit Victoria to buy and then close the Rebels but the Victorian Government put pressure on RA to pull out of the deal, saying they would not receive any money if they did not back away from the plan. ASIC would not comment on the status of investigations. RA said there would be no comment. The Rebels and VRU did not return calls when asked for comment.
Bakkies
Guest
Acknowledge this... Your beloved Rebels have got the game under an ASIC https://thewest.com.au/sport/western-force/australian-securities-and-investment-commission-to-examine-melbourne-rebels-dealings-ng-b88714040z The Rabble the gift keeps on giving
Mmmmm..k
Guest
And Piru, I am getting a bit sick of repeating myself. It's not about Aus, it's about Super Rugby. Aus is a part of something bigger. Aus was not pulling its weight and needed to condense and consolidate its position for the good of the comp. Aus had poor viewing numbers, poor playing displays, a poor financial predicament and poor prospects for the future. Nothing about Australia's premature expansion plan was working for the benifit of Aus rugby. Their resources were spread too thin and almost every important aspect of Aus rugby was suffering as a result. This was bad for a vulnerable comp wanting to ensure its future. The answer they came up with was to drop a team, increase the quality of its established teams and try to tap into the massive market of Victoria ahead of the very slow growing WA. It's a gamble either way but a gamble they felt they needed to make for valid reasons in Victoria's favour.
Mmmmm..k
Guest
Who said they were courageous? Straw man easier is it?
Mmmmm..k
Guest
Who said anything about growing a talent pool? Oh, you think Super Rugby is Australia's nursery for talent. It's not. It's a vulnerable comp that's trying to ensure survival. It has pressures from within and from outside that make it's chances of remaining slim. As far as Melbourne being a better choice for the future...well, it's 4 million people and I think the people in the ARU have calculated the risks and rewards. Being that it's part of their job.
Mmmmm..k
Guest
The comp could not afford to wait 3 years to make a decision. And if it had you still wouldn't be happy about it.
Mmmmm..k
Guest
Sheek. My brief experience with your replies is that you attack the man first. I have no time for this. If you wish to ever discuss anything with me then please stop starting your reply with an attack on me. I hope the moderators allow this comment. But yes, the decision was made to best benifit Aus rugby and Super Rugby. I have no idea why people suggest otherwise. Again, I would ask you not to discover my opinions as "nonsense" just because you disagree. You may think a team didn't need to go. But those who know better than you in SA and Aus looked at Super Rugby and made a decision based on what's best for the survival of the comp. Acknowledge this.
Mmmmm..k
Guest
Yeah, a rugby code could never succeed in Melbourne.
Mmmmm..k
Guest
Sigh. Melbourne may not be working yet but if they have a strong team the potential for growth outweighs the rewards from a WA team that threatens to deliver very little. Acknowledge this and we can talk, act as if this isn't a consideration and there is no point.
Marlin
Guest
it may have been logical to cut the Force (or another team) but it was the way they went about it that still has me shaking my head in disbelief and despair. Now they waste money re-branding' (anyone know how much that cost?). There was nothing wrong with the ARU brand - just a sensible name - the idiots working there were/are stinking it up and if they just resigned they could have saved even more money...
Ex force fan
Guest
Realist, it is sad that you measure success only on final appearances. What you ignore is how the Force helped transform WA rugby, the Wallabies produced by the program etc. Also that the Force was setup to fail, underfunded compared to other Australian franchises and with the worst travel schedule and match schedule in the comp. The Force done extremely well with what they got. I do not see 12 seasons of failure, the failire is getting your ass kicked by a team with less stars and that is paid $2 million per hear less on a regular basis.
mothy
Guest
Shows how loyal fans in WA were then. I was at every game bar 3 and the crowd never went under 8000 for a low performing team. Reds, Tahs and Rebels supporters are fair weather supporters noting that they had recent success, but their crowd participation rapidly dropped off to numbers similar to that of the Force. Especially in NSW and Qld where it is meant to be the games heartland. Witnessed this first hand when I watched games in various seasons when I travelled over east not just watching Force games but Super games in general. Pathetic argument Red! The only team I can't talk about through experience is the Brumbies as I did not attend any of their home games.
ForceFan
Roar Rookie
Appears to be very much an interim measure for 2018... New-look Force on verge of signings The West Australian 13 Jan 2018 Nick Taylor "The new Western Force will recruit high-profile players for both their National Rugby and Indo Pacific Championship teams. A hit list of signings has been drawn up as mining billionaire Andrew Forrest’s IPRC management team moves into Perth’s Rugby HQ on Monday. The NRC side will change its name from Perth Spirit to Western Force after the name was sold back to RugbyWA by Rugby Australia when it cleared voluntary administration. A number of ex-Force Super Rugby players including former internationals, prop Pek Cowan and fly-half Peter Grant, along with back-rower Brynard Stander, scrum-half Ryan Louwrens, hooker Heath Tessmann and utility back Marcel Brache, are expected to be available. Players who have been left without Super Rugby contracts from other clubs for the coming season are also on the wish list. It is hoped home-grown players who were forced to join other Super clubs when the Force was axed will be given permission to return for the NRC competition. The squad will also contain members of the Future Force academy that has received hefty funding from Forrest and local clubs. Discussions are under way for games against sides including a Pacific Islands team at Auckland’s Eden Park, invitational outfit the Asia Pacific Dragons and other overseas clubs starting in April. Home games will likely be played at nib Stadium. The Force are also looking to take part in the World Club 10s in Mauritius. Meanwhile, Forrest’s IPRC management team will re-open discussions with Rugby Australia, now led by new chief executive Raelene Castle, after they hit a roadblock when RA hit him with a series of “uncommercial demands”. Forrest plans to launch his competition in March next year but RA issued four pages of demands they want met before giving the endorsement needed to get World Rugby approval. A big stumbling block is RA’s refusal to allow Wallabies eligibility for players joining the new competition." Well done Andrew Forrest and team. Fantastic developments with zero assistance from RA. So WA maintains a Perth-based professional team. Fantastic to see these players get some reward for loyalty. This means that a full squad of players (30??) are on the payroll. Doesn't sound like a full season of games in 2018 which means that many will also be available for community rugby involvement. I hope that many local lads from last year's Perth Spirit get a chance to be involved and show their stuff at this level. In addition WA have support for the Future Force Foundation. Wasn't it something like 10 males/5 females? Big commitment from Andrew Forrest with around >40 players on the payroll + coach (?) + support staff + travel costs. I assume that he'll also be contributing to other teams' travel to Perth. Plus Minderoo is backing RugbyWA. GO THE FORCE!!!!!