Force to stay in Super Rugby 'until 2020'

Super Rugby's governing body SANZAAR's decision to trim down the competition from 18 to 15 teams for the 2018 season, has left the Australian Rugby Union in a huge mess.

ARU are forced to cut either the Western Force or Melbourne Rebels from the Super Rugby competition.

Thus far,  media reports have suggested that the  Western Force’s continued participation in the Super Rugby competition hinges on the outcome of a further meeting between the ARU Board and the Rugby Western Australia Board.

However, according to RugbyWA's statement, their position is clear and has launched legal action against the ARU in a bid to keep the threatened Super franchise afloat as the axe hovers over the Perth-based club.

The franchise remains adamant that the Force are entitled to participate in the Super Rugby competition until December 30, 2020.

The statement read: "There is no basis on which the ARU can purport to remove the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition. The ARU must work to ensure that the Western Force remains based in Perth for many seasons to come.  

"Put simply, RugbyWA is not required to ‘state a business (or any) case’ for the Western Force to remain in the Super Rugby competition.   

"That said, RugbyWA remains committed to working with the ARU to help it find a way to achieve a resolution of the current uncertainty,"

Rugby WA has sought a meeting with the ARU next Thursday, April 27, 2017, to progress discussions as to how it might assist the ARU.