Australian Rugby Union Chair Cameron Clyne told Andrew Forrest it would take A$80M ($64.3M) to "secure the Western Force’s future at the infamous meeting in Adelaide" on Aug. 22, according to Payten & Pandaram of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. The "insane figure was thrown up" because SANZAAR had already agreed to a 15-team tournament and to keep the Force, it would "have to go to a 16-team format and repay all franchises money that would be taken off the table for losing one home game a year each." Forrest responded saying that he would invest between A$10M-A$50M ($8M-$40.2M) into the Australia Rugby Foundation for professional, women’s and indigenous rugby. The ARU "requested specifics of the offer in writing" by the Force after the meeting during which Forrest pledged to "do whatever it takes" to save the team. In reality, the ARU’s "mind was made up." SANZAAR wanted 15 teams, and by then, the Melbourne Rebels’ ownership had changed hands to the Victoria Rugby Union, "leaving the Force as the only option to cut." Forrest's plans for a new Indo-Pacific rugby tournament "could become a success if he can collaborate with the ARU rather than directly oppose them." The tournament will not go "head-to-head" with Super Rugby, therefore creating an opportunity for the ARU and the billionaire to "build an exciting competition that could lure back some of Australia’s top overseas-based stars" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 9/7).
'SUITABLE USE': In Sydney, Tom Decent reported Clyne said that he was "surprised" to learn the ARU would be the subject of a senate inquiry and believes it is "concerning the government would interfere in the decision-making process of a national sports body." Clyne also questioned "whether an inquiry like this is a suitable use of public funds." In a statement released on Thursday, Clyne "welcomed the opportunity to address the committee but aired some grievances about what it might mean in the big picture." He said, "The ARU has absolutely no concerns about the integrity of the process that has been run. While it is a highly unusual step for government to single out a national sporting organisation for this type of process, particularly when there is no policy or legislation under review in relation to Australian rugby, we welcome the opportunity to address the committee" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/7).
NEW COMPETITION: The AAP's Justin Chadwick reported former Wallaby John Welborn said that Forrest's new Indo-Pacific competition is not a "rebel tournament" and it will not "struggle to attract talent." Welborn has been Forrest's "right-hand man throughout the Force's fight for survival," and he is "part of the steering committee for the billionaire's new competition plan." Welborn said that Forrest's competition was not about "trying to take down Australian rugby -- but rather grow it." He said, "I know the media and some people will see this as sort of a Kerry Packer World Series Cricket opportunity. But this is not a rebel code. This isn't about a rival code that's going to try to compete with Super Rugby" (AAP, 9/7).
STAYING COMMITTED: STUFF's Marc Hinton reported New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew said that NZR is "committed to Super Rugby" until '20. Forrest's "bold plan for a rebel rugby league" featuring New Zealand involvement has been "given short shrift" by Tew. But Tew is "not as dismissive" of the West Australian billionaire's commitment to the sport of rugby, or "necessarily his desire to see the game played at the highest level" in his hometown, Perth. Forrest suggested NZR "should get involved in his planned Indo-Pacific rebel competition." Tew said, "Not between now and 2020. We're committed to SANZAAR and that's the end of it. We've got our own domestic competition, we've got a Super Rugby competition that we love, and that's it" (STUFF, 9/7).
