Western Force granted court injunction

Rugby Western Australia (RugbyWA) have gained an injunction order against the Australian Rugby Union's decision to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby.

The Perth-based franchise lodged an appeal of their axing to the New South Wales Supreme Court and the injunction order means the ARU will not be able to get rid or relocate the Force's players until the issue has been resolved.

The Force have received support from billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest.

It is understood RugbyWA lodged their appeal on Monday and they expect to know by August 21 whether the matter will come before the Supreme Court. 

The ARU announced on Friday that they decided to axe the Force from next year's Super Rugby tournament and RugbyWA said soon afterwards that they intended to fight the governing body's decision.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry is hopeful that their appeal will be successful.

"We've been given every encouragement by our legal team that it's certainly possible," he told ABC Radio. 

"We have a commitment to the game here in Western Australia to exhaust every possibility. 

"We've got real concerns that there hasn't been a process and that there hasn't been any alternatives offered. The Australian Rugby Union as an organisation has a responsibility to the game. They've also got a responsibility to the people of Western Australia." 

The central issue that was debated in arbitration was whether the Force's axing by the ARU was correct under the terms of the 'alliance' deal the two organisations formed last year.

The ARU bought the Force's licence as part of that 'alliance' deal and guaranteed the team's future until the broadcast deal ended in 2020.

However, the ARU argued successfully that that deal no longer existed as a new one was negotiated after Super Rugby's teams were reduced from 18 to 15.

Western Force head coach Dave Wessels said the ARU's decision to axe the franchise has been an emotional experience for his players.

"Everyone's pretty devastated. I've tried to phone each player," he told AAP.

"I've had guys in tears and all sorts of stuff. People at this stage are pretty emotional.

"We're just trying to stick together as a group.

"We feel like we've been building something special here over the last few months. Some of the players who have re-signed have actually taken pay cuts. That's how much they care about the club and the group

"It would be sad to see the group just dissolved all of a sudden."