The "uncertainty of Super Rugby looks set to drag on" after Western Force CEO Mark Sinderberry was told there was "no exact time frame yet on when his franchise will be given a chance to present its case" to the Australian Rugby Union as to why it should not be cut next year, according to Tom Decent of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. It comes as Rugby Union Players' Association CEO Ross Xenos said that the delay "was having a genuine impact on psychological wellbeing of some players." It is "unlikely there will be a resolution this week, with the ARU backing down from Monday's prediction of 48 to 72 hours." ARU Chair Cameron Clyne said, "We want it to be resolved as quickly as possible. I was ambitious probably in that [timeline] because there is uncertainty and we want to bring it to a close but both teams want their opportunity to bring [forward] their case and we respect that." The Western Force "will now be given time to prepare a presentation to the ARU, outlining their financial position and a case for why Super Rugby should remain in Western Australia." Sinderberry said that it "could be more than a week" before the club travels to Sydney to present a case to the ARU board (SMH, 4/12). REUTERS' Nick Mulvenney reported the ARU, which conceded that it could "no longer afford five teams in the competition," must either "cut the team from the country's second biggest city or abandon the 12-year-old project" to develop the game in Western Australia. The ARU also released its accounts on Monday, which showed that "bailing out the Force last year" cost A$4.8M. Being privately-owned, the Melbourne Rebels could "potentially be even more costly to axe" once compensation for the lost franchise license was taken into account. South African Rugby has embarked on "internal consultations" over which teams it will cut, "although the Port Elizabeth-based Kings and Bloemfontein side the Cheetahs are most vulnerable" (REUTERS, 4/11). The AAP reported Melbourne Rebels assistant coach Morgan Turinui said that he "understood the delay and just wanted the ARU to make the right decision for the sake of all concerned." Turinui even empathized with Matt Hodgson after the Force player’s "emotional plea to the ARU on Sunday to spare the Perth outfit from the chop." Turinui said, "Matt Hodgson talking about moving his family to Perth and talk about creating a life. That’s the human element to it. Families as well, they’ve got no control" (AAP, 4/12).
'ON NOTICE': KYODO's Rich Freeman reported the Japan Sunwolves said that the "reduced traveling and more favorable time zones will help the side both on and off the field." Japan Rugby Football Union Chair Noriyuki Sakamoto said, "We will continue competing in one of the toughest competitions in the world of rugby, however, we will do so in a slightly better environment regarding the time difference and the long distance travel." There was, however, as made public by New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew on Monday, "a proviso that the Japanese franchise must lift their game or risk being axed in the future." Tew: "Japan are on notice that they've got to perform at a higher level as time goes on. Their win against the Bulls over the weekend was very timely" (KYODO, 4/10).
MAD RUSH: In Sydney, Chris Dutton reported ACT Brumbies fullback Aidan Toua "concedes the looming flooded free agents market" will be "scary" as Australian players "scramble to secure new contracts after a Super Rugby overhaul." The Brumbies have more than 20 players whose contracts end when the season finishes and "there will be a mad rush to keep the squad together." The ARU will "re-home players with existing contracts from the cut franchise to one of the remaining four teams" while the rest will "likely have to force their way into a squad." Toua said, "Maybe there was a bit of relief the Brumbies survived the axe, but we've got friends at the Rebels and the Force so we're worried for our guys over there" (SMH, 4/11).
