Back in April 2017, I found there was something familiar about Western Force’s fight for Super Rugby survival following SANZAAR’s decision to cull three franchises from next season’s competition, so I wrote about it.
Although no decision has been made public, the Force are favourites for the chop next year, when the Australian Super Rugby conference contracts from five teams to four. The situation is oddly reminiscent of the recent abortive merger between Top 14 sides Racing 92 and Stade Français, and that did not end well. Actually, that’s not true – it has not ended at all…
James Harrington: Freelance sports journalist 