Western Force veteran Matt Hodgson has revealed some of his teammates have been left mentally shot by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the franchise's future, and says the situation is also ruining rugby in Australia.
Highlanders make it eight in a row with a clinical victory over the Force at nib stadium on Saturday night.
Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has made a passionate plea for the ARU to keep the Western Force alive, saying rugby is thriving in WA and has the potential to become a future gold mine.
The ARU is set for a special general meeting after RUPA voted to support the Victorian Rugby Union.
The Western Force are set to be boosted by the return of a host of stars as the franchise plot their path towards becoming Australia's sole representative in this year's Super Rugby finals.
The Western Force have become the first Australian Super Rugby side to win in Argentina, grinding their way to a 16-6 victory over the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
Another Brumbies loss and Queensland's hoodoo-busting win over the Melbourne Rebels has added some life to the race to the Super Rugby finals.
Curtis Rona is open is eyeing an NRL return, preferably with the Bulldogs, if the Western Force are squeezed out of the Super Rugby competition.
The axe will fall in Perth or Melbourne, but what will be the ripple effect in Canberra?
Teen Nick Jooste hopes his injury demons are behind him to earn a Super Rugby debut.
ACT Brumbies boss Michael Thomson says Melbourne Brumbies merger will kill rugby in two cities.
A strong showing against the powerful Chiefs in front of a passionate home crowd might look like positives for the Western Force from the outside but coach Dave Wessels wants more.
The end of a three-week overseas trek seemingly took its toll on a lacklustre Chiefs side, who were made to work hard to get past the Force in their Super Rugby clash in Perth on Saturday night.
The Brumbies will support off-contract players who are stuck in Super Rugby limbo as the competition's uncertainty drags on.
Super Rugby players are growing increasingly frustrated by the handling of the competition and the way teams were cut.
The Brumbies are set to recall Andrew Smith to their starting team this week for the first time in more than 1000 days.
Former Brumbies fullback Robbie Coleman backs Western Force in fight for survival
The continued uncertainty of Super Rugby looks set to drag on after Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry was told there was no exact time frame yet on when his franchise will be given a chance to present its case to the Australian Rugby Union as to why it should not be cut next year.
The Rugby Union Players' Association has backed the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels' plans to take legal action against the ARU.
Brumbies players admit flooded free-agents market will be "scary" as they chase new contracts.
Save articles for later.
Subscribe for unlimited access to news. Login to save articles.
Return to the homepage by clicking on the site logo.