ARU chief executive Bill Pulver says he’s been impressed by the Western Force’s community support, saying it could prove to be the deciding factor that saves the Super Rugby franchise.

The future structure of the Super competition remains up in the air, with the very real prospect teams from South Africa and Australia could be cut.

If Australia are forced to axe any of their five franchises, the financially-troubled Force appear to be the most vulnerable.

Earlier this year, the ARU formed an alliance with the Force in what was effectively a financial bailout.

At the time, it was believed the Force would have at least four years up their sleeve to prove they were worth keeping in the competition.

However, an Australian franchise could now be cut as early as 2018.

With the fight for survival on in earnest, the Force have been working hard behind the scenes in recent months to find a way to turn themselves into a financial powerhouse.

The Force have since launched the ‘Own the Force’ campaign in a bid to become Australia’s premier publicly-owned club.

Around 4500 people have already expressed their interest in buying the $1000 certificates on offer.

The Force aim to sell around 5000 certificates in what would raise $5 million for the club.

Pulver said the initiative could prove decisive in the Force’s fate.

“I think any initiative which reflects the popularity of our game in this state is going to be a positive,” Pulver said.

“I give great credit to the rugby fans in WA. They’ve stood up and made sure they’ve been heard over the last couple of months, and that really matters.

“We’ve got a couple of months to work through it at a SANZAAR level to determine what the final outcome of the future of the Super Rugby competition is going to be.

“But believe me, the initiatives that are being undertaken here, they really count.

“As someone who represents the governing body, I can tell you they matter. They make a difference.”

Pulver said SANZAAR was likely to meet again at the end of February to make a decision on the competition structure, and whether any teams needed to be cut.

Force and Wallabies great Nathan Sharpe is desperate to see the Perth-based franchise survive, and is part of a group of current and former players willing to buy certificates.

“I think it would be tragic to see it not work out,” Sharpe said.

“I think with the events of the last couple of months and the momentum that’s been created by the supporters, I think that really proves a point about how much the Force means to the community.

“At the end of the day, that’s what rugby’s about.”

THE gold-medal winning women’s Aussie Sevens team start their campaign at lunchtime the Friday of the Sydney Sevens at the start of next month.

Drawing Brazil, Ireland and Fiji in Pool B, the tournament is the first time the team will play in front of a home crowd since bringing gold home from Rio.

Two of their matches fall at a time when locals can make it from work on Friday, February 3 to see them in action, with their second match after 4pm and the big clash against Fiji at 7pm.

The team faltered on the first leg of the World Series, going down to New Zealand in the final in Dubai, and they are desperate to put in a better effort for the home fans.

THE sports calendar is heating up in Sydney as Sixers WBBL prepare for their final matches before semi-finals and the Sevens World Series is set to hit town in two weeks.

The two teams came together to have a crack at a hybrid hit out on the SCG this week, but it’s not the first time they’ve crossed paths.

Rio gold medallist and Sevens starting player Chloe Dalton was running the water for Sixers during their tense super over loss to the Thunder last Saturday.

Dalton said emotions were high on the boundary during the super over and she relished being able to see the Sixers in action up close.