Rugby Australia names panel for Folau code of conduct hearing

Wow. A man with integrity even before such a ruthless Inquisition panel. What a beautiful sight to see a man with a backbone. God bless you Israel! Great is your reward! You’re more than a sports hero whose lives are centred around their own pocketbooks. You’re a real and true life hero.

Has it occurred to any of you that RA might actually be taking a principled position that it’s employ ought not vilify a section of the community because of a characteristic they neither chose nor can change. The recent “referendum” says that such a position is in keeping with community standards. Speaking up for Human rights and human dignity is not political correctness. It is just the proper thing to do. Cynicism might be clever, but it is not admirable.

This is a travesty and an impugnment of Folau’s right to free speech. It is non contractual and does not affect the image of Rugby itself. What are RA thinking? Their actions are reprehensible and it is this that has damaged Rugby in this country. I would say that if RA continue down this path people will turn off to Rugby in this country which must be at it’s lowest ebb for decades. I for one support Folau not RA and I don’t know what they’re so scared of!

Happy Easter and 40th Anniversary of Life of Brian- something for everyone

TWAS, If equity was not greater than deferred revenue, RA would be insolvent.

I stand with Izzy

Irrespective of his beliefs RA being his boss told him not to open his mouth again with his preaching. He has and if I employed him he wouldn’t be there to do it a third time. Good on RA and don’t pay him a cent.

So we agree they have equity which is greater than the deferred revenue?

Who are “RA themselves”? Like any organisation it’s a continuing changed structure over time. I think 1 board member dates back to 2010 for example. Many of the financial issues stem from decisions made by JON in the period 2007-2013.

You don’t have a deficit every year if it relates to a singular short fall. As I said, if it was a deficit one year, that set a cycle on bringing revenue forward you do not have continual deficits. You had one, somewhere. Every year it’s just dealing with that same single deficit.

Concerned supporter does jack

TWAS when you say they "are saddled with this issue from the past" you infer that it is something that happened to them but they are the architect of what is happening to them now. They haven't been saddled with anything. They chose to pump money into Melbourne Rugby ($10.2m in 2017, $7.55m in 2018, over and above what other SR franchises were receiving each year, circa $5.6 m in 2017, $5.8 m in 2018, need I go back further), they chose not accept Andrew Forrest's money. This path has been engineered by RA themselves, they have not simply been "saddled" with it.

TWAS you are getting confused again. A deficit refers to less cash coming in than going out. When there is a short fall between revenue and expenses that is called a loss. Getting the deferred revenue in advance to prop up the sinking ship so that they can pay wages and superannuation will keep them afloat. What is happening is that RA have pulled in about $17.628 m of moneys that don't actually vest until 2019 and even longer - 2020, maybe longer, the notes do not tell us. So those sponsors and Gov grants have been paid up and wont be paying again until 2021. Who will keep the RA ship afloat? They have equity of $26.7 m and once that is gone so are they.

Not at all - you try to bring up distractions and side rail conversations when you don't like what is being said.

that's not true TWAS

Not interesting at all. Are they going to axe a home based team to save themselves?

Interesting that the NZRU have forecast $30M of losses over the next 5 or 10 years and the RFU posted a loss of somewhere around £30M.

No. You try and bring them up every article to side track discussion to what you want to talk about.

Oh so you’re saying there’s even more reason to deal with Folau then?

Almost? At $5M-$6M per year in grants it was a bit higher than $14M spent on any team 2006-2017. Based on grant amounts they spend $8-12M on the Force (and each other team) 2016-17 alone.