Andrew Forrest tells ARU Chairman Cameron Clyne to resign over Western Force axing

Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has called on Australian Rugby Union (ARU) Chairman Cameron Clyne to resign over the decision to axe the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition, branding the decision-making process a "charade".

The ARU announced earlier this month that the Perth-based club would be dropped from the competition earlier this month, after deciding to contract the number of teams to 15.

Forrest issued a statement on Wednesday, highlighting an internal ARU document that labels the legal risk to dropping the Force "low", while the Rebels and the Brumbies are labelled "high".

The document reads “there is no legal obligation to retain the Western Force in the Super Rugby competition following a renegotiation of the broadcast rights.”

However, in relation to the Brumbies and Rebels, the advice stated “unless circumstances change the ARU would need to renegotiate an agreed termination of the Participation Deed.

"If a negotiated exit is not achievable, an attempt by ARU to terminate … the deed without cause would constitute an unlawful termination."

Forrest said the document indicated the ARU made the decision to cut the Western Force back in February, despite the body saying it was still trying to choose between the Force and the Rebels up until this month.

The entrepreneur revealed his disappointment when he found out the ARU had not been upfront about the real reason they wanted to cut the Western Force.

Forrest explained "I had a sense of deep disappointment, almost revulsion that I'd been lied to so many times.

"What I saw from a document dated late February made the whole thing a lie.

"The Western Force was set up to be ambushed, that it was going to be bullied into submission."

Forrest predicted there was a strong chance the ARU would reverse its decision to drop the Force from the competition, adding “I think if we run an equal, fair and transparent process our chances are absolute, they are 100%.”

Forrest said he would look at all the options available to the team if its legal appeals failed, including setting up a rival competition.

He also hit back at earlier comments from ARU Chief eExecutive Bill Pulver that he was too late with his offer of $50 million in sponsorship to save the team.

He continued "I ask the ARU to never say again I stepped in late - had I known what the Chairman knew I would have stepped in back in February," he said.

"I do not blame Mr Pulver, who I respect as a frank and honest servant of the board, but I do hold the Chairman accountable and call on him to resign."

Pulver has already indicated he will step down.

In a statement, the ARU rejected Forrest's claim that the process was a charade, along with the suggestion the decision to axe the Force was taken in February.

In the statement, Clynne advised “this was not the case and there are no documents which contain this information.

"At various stages of this process, the ARU Board has requested recommendations and information from ARU management to assist with making its decision.

"I can only assume that Andrew has been provided with a document that contains some of the analysis that was undertaken by ARU management at the request of the Board, to assess the many implications and considerations for exiting each of the three teams we originally assessed, which included the Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force."

Clyne also maintained Forrest's offer of support came too late, adding "Andrew's offer, which was incredibly generous, was not made until after the Board's decision had been made.”

Image: Western Force fans at a recent rally protesting the club's cutting from Super Rugby.

21st August 2017 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PREMIER THREATENS TO BANKRUPT ARU OVER AXING OF WESTERN FORCE

11th August 2017 - WESTERN FORCE TO BE CULLED FROM SUPER RUGBY AS BILL PULVER ANNOUNCES ARU DEPARTURE

31st July 2017 - MINING BILLIONAIRE ANDREW FORREST REVEALS PLAN TO BACK RUGBY’S WESTERN FORCE

20th June 2017 - BILL PULVER TO REMAIN AT ARU AS SUPER RUGBY TEAM STILL FACES AXE

10th April 2017 - ARU CONFIRMS EITHER WESTERN FORCE OR MELBOURNE REBELS WILL BE CUT FROM SUPER RUGBY

28th March 2017 - ARU REJECTS ROY MORGAN FINDINGS ON RUGBY PARTICIPATION 

27th March 2017 - WESTERN FORCE REJECTS CLAIMS OF AXING FROM SUPER RUGBY

23rd March 2017 - MASSIVE DECLINE IN AUSTRALIANS’ PARTICIPATION IN RUGBY, SQUASH AND TENPIN BOWLING 

31st January 2017 - WESTERN FORCE SECURES CRUCIAL SPONSORSHIP FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY