Falling attendance figures could spell the end of the Western Force
Concerning comments from RugbyWA Chairman John Edwards suggests that things are not all peachy in Western Australia.
After being unceremoniously dropped from Super Rugby at the end of 2017, it seemed like the Western Force were doomed to be retired – there was no competition for the team to take part in and little funding provided by the Australian Rugby Union to keep the team alive.
Fans were understandably furious. The Force were dropped at the expense of the Melbourne Rebels – a team with little history and inferior results to the Western Australian team.
It was only when Australian businessman and Force fan Andrew Forrest stepped in to fund a breakaway competition that life was breathed into the Force.
What has eventuated is Global Rapid Rugby, a competition that is barely in its infantile stages but, from the way Edwards is talking, could be on the brink of collapsing.
The first game of this year’s showcase series saw the Western Force competing against a World XV coached by ex-Australia coach Robbie Deans. As with last year’s matches, the crowd was respectable. Almost 11,500 fans turned up to see the Force take the match 26-16, but the attendance figures dropped off considerably for the next match – against the South China Tigers – with fewer than 8,000 showing up in support.
The drop off should not be surprising. Whilst a World XV has a universal appeal, with numerous ex-international lacing up, the Tigers lacked any real star players – a fading Tom Varndell the only name of note.
Edwards, however, has indicated that fans will need to turn out in droves regularly if the Force are to have any chance of continuing to operate.
“I see worrying trends and history looming if WA’s rugby community does not fully embrace the Force. I implore you all to consider your own role in maintaining both the Western Force and the exceptional rugby pathways,” Edwards has said in response to the falling attendance figures.
“It’s no secret that (Forrest) has pumped significant funds into the re-creation of Western Force and Global Rapid Rugby.
“It should also be no secret that the Force must be able to stand on its own feet financially.
“This will be the expectation for all teams joining the tournament. It will not survive if you don’t play your part.”
The high attendance figures for the Force’s initial revival series last year should be expected – fans were excited to see there team back playing competitive rugby – but now that the newness has worn off, it also should be expected that attendances will drop back to what you see for Australia’s Super Rugby teams, especially when the Force are playing weaker opposition.
Still, with Forrest still trying to encourage foreign teams to join the competition, Edwards’ words won’t be taken fondly by many. Why join a competition that hinges on a team that is on the edge of extinction?
It seems like the Force are teetering on the precipice. If Western Australians want to have any hope of being represented in top-tier competitions in the future then they’ll have to speak with their feet and turn up for the remaining games in this year’s Global Rapid Rugby competition – Edwards has made that abundantly clear.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
6 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
1 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
86 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
2 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
86 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
86 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
86 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to comments