Melbourne’s Super mess
Investors are pulling out of Australia’s new franchise after failing to agree to terms with the ARU over funding.
Spokesman Ray Evans told AAP that members of the VicSuper15 group, who were involved in the winning bid for the new licence in the expanded 2011 competition, have ‘ceased negotiations’ with the ARU.
He said the group had European Cup-winning Australian coach Michael Cheika, who is currently with Irish side Leinster, lined up to coach Melbourne, and ‘possibly [Wallabies skipper] Rocky Elsom’ but was unsure if that would now eventuate.
Mining magnate Kevin Maloney, one of the main backers of the franchise, is among investors to walk away saying the operation isn’t viable.
The parties reached an impasse over funding, with the ARU unwilling to match an annual grant of $4.2 million to the existing Australian Super Rugby sides. It initially offered A$2.1 million which was upped to A$3 million but members of VicSuper15 say it’s insufficient.
December 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
money corrupts!
December 29th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Messy Dragons
December 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
thanks to David for waking up these sleepy typists here on Keo…these guys are pathetic!
December 29th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
O fok
December 29th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Give them rope, hopefully they will hang themselves.
December 29th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
It is clear now that financial viability is a real concern for a new Super 15 franchise. The Kings would have had these struggles if they had won the bid, and it would only have weighed SA rugby down.
As it is, this Australian Super rugby franchise could be a great success for SA teams. They will make the competition easier, and give the Lions, Cheetahs, and Stormers more wins which is exactly what their supporters want. The Stormers supporters, in particular, will claim championship status everytime they beat the Melbourne franchise, giving their franchise a financial boost in the process.
December 29th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
@grant10: Money does not have the ability to do anything let alone corrupt!! People are corrupt…
December 29th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Heheheheheheh! Australian rugby can not afford the fifth franchise, and this is patently obvious already! Great news for the local teams, with an easy opponen to score some points against…..
December 29th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
14 Super Rugby franchises really is the tipping point. The pathetic Southern Spares/Kings would have been equally (or far more) hopeless so it’s a hidden blessing that they didn’t get what they wished for.
Melbourne is the heartland of Aussie Rules footie — even rugby league (the overall second oval-ball code in Australia after Rules, ahead of union) doesn’t get much look-in in Melbourne.
Rugby Union is about as big in Melbourne as what lacrosse is in Joburg.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Good, that’s what you get for being greedy convicts.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:41 am
The Super 15 and new Aussie franchise was designed by O’Neill who pulled the wool over NZ and SA’s eyes where the Aussie will now have a domestic league funded partially by the SANZAR nations.
This Aussie franchise will come together, mark my words.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Maybe it would have been better for the Southern Kings after all
December 30th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I dont htink it is that bad as being reported.
It does look as though some greedy people are trying to get too much mileage for the little money they are putting in. ARU are insisting they are staying out of it but the backers are asking for the ARU to fund part.
It will work out when Oneill steps in again. He has the balls to sort it out. Remember when NZ were confusing the issue in 2002/0 for the RWC. Oneill said sort it out or we will pull the plug on you.
He will do it again.
By the way it seems NZ will make a loss on the 2011 world cup.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:08 am
@wallabie.:
Stadium is 90% finished… and supporters clubs starting to step up the gears…