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3 Super Rugby franchises to hold crisis talks with ARU

Cape Town - Three of Australia's Super Rugby franchises will conduct a meeting with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).

The aim is to make sure that major staff turnover and a legal battle with the Western Force isn't a distraction for the future of the game.

The Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies representatives will have the meeting on Friday and hope to get a better idea of what the ARU's plans are for next year and beyond.

A stalemate currently exists between Australian rugby and the Western Force. The Force are trying to keep their place in Super Rugby, while the ARU continues a significant staff overhaul.

Chief executive Bill Pulver, chief operating officer Rob Clarke and chief financial officer Todd Day have all resigned this year. The general manager of marketing and insights Jade MacAuslan and general manager of commercial and marketing John Nicholl are also rumoured to be leaving the ARU very soon. 

The Force and the Melbourne Rebels won't be at this meeting because it was allegedly organised a month ago, far before the outcome of an arbitration hearing last week.

It has also been alleged that the Rebels were never considered to join the meeting, even though it appears certain they will remain in Super Rugby.

Last week it was decided that the Force would be axed after succeeding in arbitration hearing.

RugbyWA has since launched an appeal in the New South Wales Supreme Court. If the appeal is successful, a date next week will be agreed upon for the case to be heard.

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