Force cut by ARU, Bill Pulver steps down

ARU CEO Bill Pulver is set to quit his position following today’s announcement that the Western Force will be cut from the Super Rugby competition.

Pulver will remain in his position until the board finds a replacement, then, he will step down.

“Incredibly tough decision to terminate the Western Force license from the 2018 Super Rugby season,” Pulver said.

“I’d like to acknowledge Matt Hodgson, Mark Sinderberry and the entire WA Rugby community for all of their commitment and hard work.

“I have made the decision to step down as CEO once the board finds someone to replace the position.

“It’s been a tough year for Rugby. It’s a good time for a renewed leadership. A clean state. A new generation of Rugby.

“I have enormous sympathy for everyone in WA. Simply, this is the right decision for Super Rugby. We need to get the balance right.

“I am very very sorry for all the people affected by this in WA.

“Sports is a difficult business and we have had a difficult year. This means it is the right time for me to step down and create renewal.

“We will do the utmost to form the right relationships to continue the development in WA.

“All contracted players will have their contracts honoured.

“We did an exhaustive analysis, and at the end of the day the decision to cut the Force came down to the financial and performance aspects.

“Teams like the Wallaroos and community rugby are not getting the support they need. We need to give them more financial support.

“We need to support the areas of the game that are growing, they deserve much more.

“It’s been a great privilege being the CEO of Australian Rugby Union.”

The decision comes after a months-long saga in which Pulver and the ARU have ummed and ahhed over whether to cut the Force or the Melbourne Rebels to reduce the number of Super Rugby sides in Australia.

It was announced as far back as April that the Australian Super Rugby contingent would be reduced to four teams ahead of 2018, and at the time it was said that a decision on which team to cut would be made in a matter of days.

Instead, it has taken months, and the final decision has prompted extensive fan outrage as many believe that the Melbourne Rebels instead should have been removed from the competition.

 I'm not sure that this is in the best intrests of the ARU or SupeRugby.
The Force have / had a huge part to play in generting rugby intrest in western australia. They also enjoyed a large support base.

I far believe that the Rebels should have been chucked out. They offered very little in terms of fan base and even less in terms of talent.

Very poor decision overall.

 I thought that the force was one of their better teams as well as some quality rugby players. Had Australia not introduced the Rubbels they probably would have been in a few play-offs. 
I think Australia has gone or the money and completely thrown away the principles of rugby by opting for a potential bigger market. We know that Melbourne is a one of the biggest cities in Aus but it doesn't mean it is the better rugby territory. Just look at Auckland. You would think that a big city like that would product champions but the bulls have not been one of the top teams for a long time. 
If anything, the rubbles should have been cut. 

 So they drop the team with a good supporter base a billionaire backer and which has produced more Wallabies and decent Super players than the Rebels.Just plain dumb.

 I would cut the Rebels too.

 As I have it the Rebels is a privately-owned franchise - which could be seriously problematic to withdfr4aw the license and could have jeopardize the whole process through court battlers.
I think that the loss of the Force is not really in the interest of professional rugby in Australia and the Rebels ah3eads of the Force decision may in the long run be detrimental.
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