Western Force to return in new comp launched by Andrew Forrest

He stated he would be more likely to be involved as a coach than as a player.

If you think about the Asian Rugby Association and the (2019) IPRC story, what is being looked at is a competition that takes the best of the Asian championship teams and combines them with 1 or 2 of the pacific island teams and WA. All these teams/countries) are in the world top 32 (ignoring that WA & HK aren't countries). Last time I looked Fiji was about 9th and HK about 30? The Asian rugby association is a pretty broad group with some serious financial muscle. They are also very excited about this opportunity so have stated strongly that they will support the IPRC. With 60% of the worlds poulation within a 4-6hr time zone window, a supportive billionaire sponsoring the concept, the Chinese government and Sri Lankan governments both stating publicly that they want to support rugbys growth in their countries (SL has declared rugby to be the countries #1sport and Chinese supporting a US$100m package by Alibaba) and support of both World Rugby and Asian Rugby and the 2019 RWC - The ingredients are all lined up for IPRC to be very successful. I wouldn't be surprised if within 3 yrs it was making money.

Minderoo's $$s (?????)

Why, what service does the ARU provide? Insurance, No that is covered in the remain $140 Club Costs, No that is covered in the remain $140 Grass Roots development. No, Twiggy is picking up the tab For Having a Wallaby game in Perth once a year, No So $90 Bucks for no service whatsoever sounds like a pretty raw deal to me.

Thanks from the West, Concerned Supporter. The issue you raise is the saga of vested interests, buddies of buddies and those who have hijacked our sport. That Clyne can have lead rugby in Australia through several incredibly badly managed and grossly unsuccessful years and remains in the chair of RA is a non sequitur of the first order. RA the great gatekeepers of rugby in Australia.

I succeed to the master My Mistake: Bill Pullman was the Prez in independence day It could easily have been Harrison ford in air Force one or Kevin Kline in Dave. They all blur into one after a while. Each giving more convincing performances than the orange one. I thought it was Martin Sheen's character AJ that said it, not Marty McFly, I got that one wrong too. Yes, I modified the quote, to suit my narrative - as I acknowledged. I looked it up first, Way to ruin literary license with facts! Careful, by adding Michael Douglas' response, I think you might just have implied league fans are uneducated. I tried very hard not to say it........It may be true, but it is rude to point it out ;)

As you allude to, There is limited interest in the hundred million SANZAAR population either Melbourne brags of a large "Potential market", but can't gain give tickets away. Barely 1% of the population have half an interest. If you can get 0.01 % of the Asian market, you will make a killing. 0.001% is OK, 0.0001% is break even. Some sobering figures. Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and S.Korea are easy markets, they are already hooked, it is an exercise in publicity. I am not sure what circles you travel in but there are large ruby communities in these regions. They may not show up in the stadiums but they will turn on their TV's or Smart devices. From what I have seen in Aussie Rugby, Viewers to crowd numbers range between 5 and 10:1 FTA numbers could be quadruple that. Twiggy needs to tap into the greater Asian population, for now he is picking the low fruit. I do question your statement on disinterest in sport. Soccer is hugely popular, pretty much everywhere.

Agree

Hate to correct you but it wasn't Bill Pullman who played president Andrew Shepherd in The American President, it was Michael Douglas. And this quote was not the president, but his aide, A.J, played by the immortal Michael J Fox Shepherd's line was the response (again paraphrased) "People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty, they drink it because they don't know any better" Sorry to be the movie nerd but that's one of my favourite scenes

Life in prison for the wrongly accused give you the right to a persecution complex. If fact if you don't have one by then, it makes you a sociopath. Look that one up in a dictionary, you will see photo's of Clyne, Pulver and Clarke and phrases like compulsive lying and deceit without remorse or empathy.

My belief is that if Union didn't become an elitist game isolated to private schools, it would be as popular as league. Free to Air broadcasting is another game changer that bridges the socioeconomic divide. League was the Pro form of Rugby and was well established before Rugby gave it a go. The subtlety of complicated rules (Relatively), and strategy are always going to be lost on many potential fans. Rugby could take note of this. I am not saying there should be a tap restart for a ball that goes out or is knocked on, but the boredom of lumbering oafs puffing their way up to scrums only to feign injury whilst everyone gets a drink, only to be bored by by scrum reset scrum after reset scrum has me reaching for my youtube skip 10 seconds button (the "L" key for anyone interested). It is a professional sport that people are being charged a lot of hard earned to watch, Being robbed of 20 minutes of ball in play time has me wondering if I am getting my money's worth. If fatigue is a problem, run an interchange for the forwards. 3 Props, 1 Lock, 1 Backrower. There are tweaks to make it appeal

Tomorrow I am off to the NRL double header at the Perth Cray Pot. $40 a GA ticket is a pretty good deal for 3 hours of footy. Sure, it isn't Rugby but: "When you are following a mirage and discover there’s no water, you drink the sand." ~ Bull Pullman - The American President - Modified quote

I believe Twiggy to be a wise man, If it economically pertinent, he will include any team that suits his economics. As much as it pains me to say, Sydney and Brisbane are the rugby heartland and supporter base, and to rebuild it from the fetid mess it is now is beneficial to the code and good for the business. It just needs to be remembered that it isn't the only place Rugby is played.

Well as Australian Rugby ostensibly has the RA looking out for it, I'd rather he backed WA

All of you dissing TWAS, he certainly throws a new light on rugby administration. We all have played in a team alongside a player a little unstable, unpredictable, and ineffective but seldom if ever effects the outcome as we simply close up, work harder to get across the line and think quietly to ourselves thank christ I'm not like that poor b***tard.

Haha. Maybe a bit harsh mate. If TWAS didn't log on it would just be a big rugby love in! I hate to say it but my wife bought a Dockers membership for our dog once! He looked quite good in purple :)

Only time will tell TWAS......... The reality is that there is a good deal of international support for this concept - World Rugby, Asia Rugby, Pacific Nations and Nth America. It's also pleasing to see that Fiji - World #9, Tonga - World #13 and Samoa - World #16 are prepared to travel to Perth to play a provincial team such as the Western Force. Yes, of course Minderoos' $$s are helping but can you name any other occasion where this has happened before? I know it's not your team but will I see you at the Rebels v Brumbies game tonight?

Scott D, Don't you know that TWAS is the master of misleading & deceptive comments. Memo, WA Rugby, Follow the lead of the AFL for these games, 1/concentrate on memberships, the AFL sell INFANT & PET memberships. 2/ Keep admission prices low for these games in Perth. 3/ Promote & market these games. The ARU Marketing & Promotions has been abysmal 4/ Obtain FTA coverage. .

@Kalipo, Very sobering and common sense posting.Well done.

No problems with those players playing for oz.But if people want to persist with this island poaching rubbish a la NZ,then lets take it to the extreme. The examples you give could be equally applied to players of PI descent representing NZ,but apparently when NZ uses them it is poaching.