Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver said that billionaire Andrew Forrest was "simply too late to the table" with a A$50M ($39.8M) offer to "prop up" Super Rugby side Western Force and "assure the future of the code," according to Tom Decent of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Pulver is also "remaining tight-lipped" on whether the ARU has a plan B should the Force win its appeal in the Supreme Court of NSW to remain in Super Rugby next season. Pulver "once again expressed sympathy" to the people of Western Australia who look set to lose the Western Force in '18. The ARU last week turned down Forrest's offer, mainly because it "promised" SANZAAR it will cut a team from next year's competition. Such a large sum of money "could do wonders for the code in Australia," but Pulver said that it was "disappointing Forrest did not come forward earlier" with his checkbook. Pulver: "I wish he'd been involved in the process perhaps a little earlier, that would have been helpful. There are plenty of opportunities to add to the player development pathway. If he's got investment ideas, we'd love to talk to him." Pulver added that there was "no news to report on the Force's future." He said, "Last Wednesday it was heard, and I think some time next week we'll hear an outcome and we'll respond to that when we get to it" (SMH, 8/29).
FACING THE FANS: The AAP reported Pulver is "resigned to facing a torrid backlash from irate Western Force fans at next week's Wallabies Test in Perth." He confirmed that he would attend the Rugby Championship match against South Africa. By then, Force fans are "expected to know the outcome" of RugbyWA's Supreme Court appeal. RugbyWA President Hans Sauer "urged fans" to wear their team's blue colors -- not Wallaby gold -- to the match in protest, while predicting others will boycott it (AAP, 8/29).
