Monday’s Rugby News has more ARU drama, takes on the ARU drama, a miffed Johan Ackermann and a chatty Michael Cheika.
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Oh No
Late late late Friday night, Imperium Group announced that they and their owner, Andrew Cox, had transferred the licence of the Melbourne Rebels over to the Victorian Rugby Union for $1.
What this all means is very confusing. All that can be surmised is that means bad news bears for the ARU, and that the timing of the presser – 5pm on Friday – was an attempt to sneak out the news.
“It’s exciting for the Melbourne Rebels and local rugby that, with the VRU, we’ve been able to secure the future of the Super Rugby club,” Cox said in a statement (via rugby.com.au).
“Importantly this will strengthen the player pathway for aspiring talented Victorian players. We acknowledge the work of Tim North, President of the VRU and the VRU Board.
“After two rewarding, productive, and at times challenging seasons, Imperium Sports Management is pleased to hand over control of the Melbourne Rebels to ensure their future is in the hands of the Victorian Rugby community.”
Roy Ward in The Age speculates that this move “stops the ARU from buying back the Rebels and shutting them down,” although he doesn’t really offer any clear reason why. Although he does add copy from an ARU statement:
“The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has tonight received confirmation from a third party that ownership of the Melbourne Rebels had transferred from Imperium Group to the Victorian Rugby Union,” the statement read.
“The Melbourne Rebels have an obligation under their Participation Deed to inform ARU of any change of ownership. To date, ARU has received no such communication from the Melbourne Rebels despite recent attempts to confirm their position.
“ARU is urgently seeking to confirm the terms on which this transfer occurred.”
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Oblivion & Divinations
Jamie Pandaram is writing in the Daily Telegraph that “Australian rugby [is] facing oblivion”, given the news of the the Rebels licence thingy.
On one hand, there’s the current Force arbitration. The Force could succeed there, but if they don’t they’re expected to take their fight to the Supreme Court (and are backed by lots of high-profile figures, and big money in Twiggy Forrest).
The Force seem quite confident in their stubbornness, with Panda quoting RugbyWA chairman Tom Howarth as saying, “We won’t be done in by a group of people sitting in Sydney who think they understand the running of the game when they’ve been so fundamentally bad that people don’t want to go to Test matches any more.”
On the other hand, is this Rebels thing.
“The ARU, who must cut one of the two teams to save $18 million over the next three years – a figure that would send them broke if they had to pay it – are still trying to make contact with Rebels officials to query how the deal was done,” Panda writes.
“It’s the ARU’s belief that any change of ownership needs their oversight, but the Rebels clearly have been given legal advice that the ownership change could be done without any sign-off by the ARU due to a put agreement in their contract.”
If the ARU fails in axing either team, Panda writes, Pulver and Clyne would have to resign. But what to do about the $18m needed to be saved over the next three years?
“The financial problems would remain; how to save $6 million a year that would go to the fifth franchise,” Panda continues.
“In their understandable bid to save themselves, the Force and Rebels could sink the ship. Australian rugby has never faced such a serious crisis.”
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Ackermann Ain’t A-Ok
Lions coach Johan Ackermann isn’t happy that Kwagga Smith was red-carded after the Lions flanker almost snapped David Havili’s spine, in Saturday’s Super final.
“I suppose I stand by the comments I made before about it being better for the player to be disciplined afterwards, especially if it was not dirty play,” said Ackermann, reports rugby.com.au.
“I just feel that over 60,000 people did not pay to come watch a 15-versus-14 game. The law is one thing, but common sense is another, and then there is the physics that is involved.
“When one guy jumps in the air and goes forward, that should be taken into account.”
“I suppose the New Zealand people will be happy that Jaco Peyper is now a good referee, when last week they said he wasn’t,” Ackermann boom-shaka-la-ka’d
Despite his grievances, Ackermann – who’s leaving the Lions to go sprinkle his magic dust on Gloucester – is quite proud of his side, who managed to get within 8 points and squeaky bum time of the Crusaders despite being 1 man down for most of the match.
“The result did not go our way, but I asked the guys at half-time not to give up, to keep fighting and they did that.
“It took a lot out of 14 men for them to come back and I’m very proud of them – they showed a lot of character. It was phenomenal, (and) coming from 25-3 down to 25-17 is what will stay with me.”
Ackermann would also like to add that he thought the Crusaders were ” well-deserved champions.”
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Cheika Chats Composition
Michael Cheika has had his usual spiel (via the SMH) about the players he’s picked, and here’s what he’s had to say.
First of all, he found dropping Brumbies’ captain Sam Carter a difficult decision. Carter started 2 June tests but obviously didn’t impress Cheika.
“That was probably the most difficult one,” Cheika said. “That’s a position where we’re looking for someone to step up and claim that job.
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