All Roads Lead West: Research Team Likely To Give Perth The Nod

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday December 10, 2004

Ben Kimber

The board of the Australian Rugby Union is today expected to be asked to endorse Perth as the venue for Australia's next provincial rugby franchise.

The race between Perth and Melbourne for entry into the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006 ends today when the nine-man board convenes to choose between the two contenders.

The meeting will begin with a recommendation from the evaluation committee, a body of ARU figures and independent analysts established to research the two potential sites, and a source close to the committee told the Herald that Perth would be put forward.

The committee, headed by ARU commercial operations manager Brian Thorburn and high-performance manager Brett Robinson, investigated the potential of each city and while Melbourne's bid was seen as strong, Perth's offer seems to have been more appealing for rugby's expansion in Australia.

The ARU board has the right to ignore the advice and make its own decision, but after the time and money invested in determining the most fertile site for the new team, a departure from the recommendation is unlikely.

The board members were sent the final relevant documents from each bid on Wednesday, after receiving the evaluation committee's findings. The nine members convened yesterday afternoon and were expected to dine together last night ahead of today's historic meeting.

The meeting starts at 9.30am, and although the Super 14 recommendation will be the first item on the agenda, a swift decision is not assured. The ARU has even flagged the possibility of postponing the announcement should discussions drag on.

"The reality is that the board might want some more information. I can't predict that," ARU chief executive Gary Flowers said. "But we think it's been a very detailed approach and very holistic and wholesome approach and we think both locations have put in fantastic amounts of work and great bids."

Whichever city is chosen will swiftly move ahead with the plans it submitted to the ARU, with both candidates planning to invest money in a stadium and develop facilities of sufficient standard for a Super 14 side.

Western Australia's Government has pledged $25 million to upgrade Members Equity Stadium, while the Victorian Government has promised $100m to refurbish Olympic Park.

Perth's bid has been endorsed by Wallabies captain George Gregan, who jokingly suggested the Perth Pelicans as a team name, and if the western capital is successful the key factor in its victory may be size.

Melbourne's larger corporate sector could yield more sponsorship money, but a new team has the potential to dominate across several areas in the smaller environs of Perth. Melbourne has million-dollar backing from the likes of constructor John Holland and Crown Casino, but Perth has remained confident it can present a solid financial case and win on the overall strength of its bid.

WA Rugby chairman Geoff Stooke yesterday announced its bid had secured another $500,000 in promised sponsorship from two WA companies and a third on the east coast, countering Melbourne's late announcements of solid financial backing this week.

Perth could be seen as a more stable beachhead for rugby's aim of becoming a truly national code, strengthening the game across Australia before a move is made on the AFL-dominated landscape of Melbourne.

Whichever city succeeds, the strenuous battle between the two has strengthened Australian rugby's confidence in expansion, with Flowers even laughingly agreeing that with two strong bids the loser may find a ray of light in future enlargement.

"Super 15 first, maybe - one step at a time," Flowers joked. "It does really say that the game is very healthy commercially."

NSW sack Friend - Page 32

WHAT THE HERALD'S EXPERTS SAY

GREG GROWDEN

ARU should select: Melbourne.

ARU will probably select: Perth.

If rugby is going to grow, the new Super 14 franchise should go to Australia's second-largest city, Melbourne. But I'm hearing too many ARU delegates whispering Perth.

BEN KIMBER

ARU should select: Perth.

ARU will probably select: Perth.

Perth is a more manageable prospect to host a successful rugby team in its own right, and the ARU may not take the punt on Melbourne despite its superior ability to generate cash to support a side.

PHIL WILKINS

ARU should select: Perth.

ARU will probably select: Perth.

Perth is a vibrant rugby community ready to embrace a new team, and South African influence should tip the ARU Perth's way as New Zealand would be indifferent.

PETER FITZSIMONS

ARU should select: Perth.

ARU will probably select: Melbourne.

Perth should win as it is a perfect stepping stone to the bigger market of Melbourne, but Melbourne will probably win as the ARU will go for the big bucks now.