Western Force dig in at Super Rugby cull moves

Defiant Western Force insisted Friday that it was entitled to play in the Super Rugby competition until the end of 2020 amid reports of its demise.

Parent body RugbyWA has launched legal action against the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) in a bid to keep threatened Super franchise afloat as the axe hovers over the Perth-based club.

Western Force put out a statement late Friday dismissing reports that its continued participation in the Super Rugby competition hinged on the outcome of a further meeting between the ARU Board and the RugbyWA Board.

• Super Rugby to be cut from 18 to 15 teamsSANZAAR has announced that the Super Rugby tournament has been restructured and will kick-off in 2018 with a three conference‚ 15-team format: five teams from New Zealand‚ four from Australia‚ four from South Africa‚ one from Japan; and one from Argentina. 

"RugbyWA's position is clear. Under current arrangements the Western Force is entitled to participate in the Super Rugby competition until 30 December 2020," the statement said.

"There is no basis on which the ARU can purport to remove the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition.

"The ARU must work to ensure that the Western Force remains based in Perth for many seasons to come.

"Put simply, RugbyWA is not required to 'state a business (or any) case' for the Western Force to remain in the Super Rugby competition."

• Super Rugby cull means redistribution of wealth in SA rugbyThe horse-trading to decide the two South Africa Super Rugby franchises to be cut from the tournament from 2018 officially began this week‚ and one of the toughest talking points will be over the redistribution of wealth in rugby. 

Super Rugby's governing body SANZAAR announced earlier this month that two South African teams and one from Australia would be axed from 2018, streamlining the 18-team competition to a three-conference 15-team format.

SANZAAR has left it to the national rugby unions involved to announce the teams to cut.

The ARU has said it would be either the Force or the Melbourne Rebels.

• Nowhere to hide for the Cheetahs as the Chiefs invade BloemfonteinThe last time the Cheetahs played at home‚ they hid behind the fact there were factors far beyond their control when they lost to the Sharks. 

RugbyWA said it remains committed to working with the ARU to help it find a way to achieve a resolution of the "current uncertainty" over its position in the five-nation tournament.

"Rugby WA has sought a meeting with the ARU next Thursday, (27 April) to progress discussions as to how it might assist the ARU," Force said.