Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest called on the Australian Rugby Union to merge Super Rugby sides Melbourne Rebels and ACT Brumbies "as the Western Force's future is put on the line in an arbitration hearing from Monday," according to Jamie Pandaram of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Force supporter Forrest, who told players he will do "whatever it takes" to save the club after its final match of Super Rugby this year, said that he is also "open to exploring the idea of the Force merging with the Rebels." Forrest: "It will bolster the rugby culture in Victoria, giving players there access to one of the best teams in the country. It will allow the Brumbies to broaden their sponsorship appeal and it will, importantly, allow the Western Force to continue to grow its incredible support base." Should WA Rugby lose the arbitration case, it is believed the "whatever it takes" line from Forrest "could translate to further legal action against the ARU," as far up as the Australian Supreme Court. The arbitration hearing begins Monday, with WA Rugby to argue that an alliance agreement signed jointly with the ARU ensures its "survival until the end of the current Super Rugby broadcast agreement" in '20 (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 7/30). In Sydney, Wayne Smith wrote the ARU was "never likely to appeal the arbitration decision," but it would be "even less inclined to front up for a prolonged fight" now that a group of Perth businessmen have agreed to fund the Western Force's legal bill. As it is, there are "any number of people who, after this gladiatorial battle is all over, will be paying very close attention to the size of the ARU's legal bill." It does not "need to get any bigger." If, on the other hand, the ARU gets a "favourable outcome" at arbitration, then "this mess will in all likelihood drag on through the courts" -- the Supreme Court, even the High Court -- "for months, possibly years" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/31).
