Forrest made the extraordinary financial offer to the ARU on one condition: they reinstate the Western Force. RUPA chief executive Ross Xenos said he was bewildered by the ARU rejecting Forrest's offer. "The proposal was based on $50 million being provided to the Australian rugby foundation, which would then assist rugby across the country," Xenos said. Xenos says the ARU should be capitalising on the crisis by accepting Forrest's offer. "Having four professional teams in Super Rugby would mean we would have more Australian players playing professionally overseas than what we would have playing Super Rugby in Australia," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 23, 2017 20:37 UTC