With an all-important SANZAAR meeting scheduled this week to determine the future of Super Rugby, we break down the pros and cons of cutting each Australian franchise.Â
Melbourne RebelsÂ
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Pros: At a time when on-field performances are as important as ever, the Rebels have been embarrassed in their opening two matches.Â
It is hard to conjure up interest when a team concedes 127 points in two weeks.
There is an argument Melburnians would not be perturbed if the Rebels ceased to exist. Crowd numbers are poor and they are competing in one of the most saturated sporting markets, with AFL still the top dog in town.Â
And if the ARU adopt the last in, first out policy, it could be goodbye for coach Tony McGahan and his Rebels.Â
Cons: Melbourne is a sport-mad city and there is potential for the Rebels, should they get their act together on the field, to gather momentum.Â
Meanwhile, the Rebels were taken off the ARU's hands in 2015 and are privately owned by Imperium Group, putting them in an auspicious financial position. Â
![Tension: Things got heated between Western Force and Queensland Reds players on the weekend.](/web/20170310161940im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/t/b/n/m/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gus6jh.png/1488947739504.jpg)
According to owner Andrew Cox, the Rebels have the second-best advertising market in Australia and have new stadium deals, which could keep them safe from the chopping block.Â
Western Force
Pros: The Force have been Australia's worst-performing team in recent years and there is little temptation to go west for Wallabies players.
The travel factor comes into the equation as well. Getting players in and out of Perth is an expensive exercise and if a trans-Tasman competition is the way forward, cutting the Force would be logical from a cost point of view.
The ARU secured the Force's intellectual property last year, meaning they would be easier to get rid of than say the Rebels.
From a national perspective, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika could have all his best players on one side of the country, which creates opportunities for more mid-season camps.Â
Cons: There is a healthy rugby community out in the west, and getting rid of the Force could erode the code in WA.Â
The ARU has spoken at length in recent years about keeping a national footprint intact, and having a team in Perth achieves this goal of elite players spread across the country.
If the Force were chopped, Australia's remaining four Super Rugby franchises would all be on the east coast.Â
Financially strained last year, the Force have been proactive by setting up an "Own the Force" fan buy-in campaign.Â
They also secured a $1.5 million-a-year deal with the Road Safety Commission in what is the biggest 12-month sponsorship ever signed by an Australian rugby franchise.Â
This financial windfall might keep them afloat, as well as a respectable showing on the field in their first two games.Â
ACT Brumbies
Pros: The Brumbies have been under financial strain in recent years and a revolving door of chief executives and off-field dramas hasn't exactly painted a picture of a stable organisation.Â
There is a genuine fear in Canberra the ARU might make the tough decision and cut them from the competition, but that would be short-sighted and very audacious given they are a foundation club with a genuine heartbeat in Australian rugby.Â
Cons: The Brumbies are Australia's most successful Super Rugby franchise and have been an integral part of the Canberra sporting landscape since 1996.Â
They finished top of the Australian conference last year and won two titles in 2001 and 2004, more than any Australian team.Â
They, like the Rebels, are zero wins from two attempts but their successful past will be taken into consideration.Â
Queensland RedsÂ
Pros: Queensland's financial predicament hasn't been great in recent years. They had a bottom line loss off $789,380 in 2016, but this was a big improvement on the organisation's $2.18 million loss in 2015.Â
The Reds' on-field performances haven't been earth-shattering either, however, their Super Rugby title in 2011 – one of only four won by Australian teams since the competition began in 1996 – gives them a degree of leeway.Â
Cons:Â Only second to NSW in terms of player participation, there are far more problematic areas than Queensland Rugby.Â
The Queensland and NSW rivalry is also one of best fixtures on the calendar and would be a feature local derby of any condensed Super Rugby competition.Â
NSW WaratahsÂ
Pros:Â There is no logical reason to chop the Waratahs.Â
Cons: New South Wales is Australia's biggest state, produces more rugby players and has been a nursery for a large portion of Australia's greatest players.Â
On the field, the Waratahs have been fairly consistent, winning a maiden Super Rugby title in 2014 and performed well in the following two seasons.
The Waratahs also boast 12 Australian representatives in their squad, meaning they are safe as houses.Â
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