Now this is where it all starts to get really intersting and World Rugby (and especially the ARU will be getting vety nervous).
So lets just put aside the institutionalised views and beliefs and look what we have.
So is Rugby WA a union? Would anyone strip Rugby WA of that status for political gain and hurt players especially if its expanding the game; the publicity (and there is international reporting on this) would be quite significant? They are only making the best of a bad situation and wanting to keep rugby going in WA.
So, putting yourselves in the shoes of World Rugby would you say no to a massive investment from a solid investment and risk showing you will shut down people willing to put millions in to grow the game? Remember this is being played on the international stage and not some backyard stouch in NSW! (remember the ARU has chewed through $770mil in 10 years, Twiggy just made more than 50% of that just in profits this year so the funding cash cow is on a different scale).
If Twiggy were to sang a Japanese team World Rugby would not dare a fight pre-RWC.
If Twiggy were to get TV coverage (backing) again (just remember Kerry Stokes has also weighed in on this) would World Rugby dare act as TV will follow the money and the ARU and SANZAAR may find negotiations very difficult in future.
The other question to ask is in reality is how much power do World Rugby really have? It would only take one "group" to break ranks and the door opens for others and then what will World Rugby do? Exclude countries, impose sanctions, block player trades and movement? Really, what can they do?
Even if they could, would they want to in this situation it maybe the saviour of the game here and the interference could be the final dropping of the axe that ends it all.
The argument about access to the "best" players is really moot. The Wallabies pool of players is still quite small and Ben Mowen showed that not all players are interested in playing the ARU selection games. Other good players certainly can play internationally (without the Wallaby dependency we wish they had) playing in invite tournaments and Barbarian games (like Lilo did 2 seasons ago) which shows that you can be top flight and not in favour for national selection and still play on the international stage with the best players in the world.
Looking at really successful rugby (as in ratings / crowds / support) being played right now its the Mitre 10 and Currie Cup which only "FEATURES" some of the top flight players and is fantastic to watch and is the key demonstration that you don't need the draw cards to built a good product. In fact, it the place draw cards are built (PS: you will notice in SA its not the Currie Cup teams having issues its the Super Rugby teams!)
So let get real and look at the contenders in this cage fight: Regulation 16.2.1 v $445mil worth of dividends (at least) and several hundred Rugby players, multiple clubs and an audience who wants to see good rugby (sanctioned or not).
I would be interested to see the attitudes of players right now. Jobs being cut, contacts being blocked by the ARU...