Force invite Rebels over for a sombre beer

Either the Rebels or Force will be axed ahead of next year's Super Rugby competition but the two sides are showing each other plenty of love.

Western Force will invite Melbourne Rebels players to join them for a beer after they lock horns in Friday night's Super Rugby clash.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will cull either the Force or the Rebels ahead of next season, with the hovering axe set to add extra intrigue to the Perth game.

But rather than take out their frustrations on each other, Force and Rebels players have portrayed a sense of unity this week.

And the sentiment is set to extend to the post-match festivities, with Force coach Dave Wessels keen for his players to chew the fat with the Rebels.

"I guess we'd probably like to have a beer with them after the game and just talk about how they're feeling, and vice-versa," Wessels said.

"No one really knows what's going to happen from here. We're all caught in limbo.

"In a lot of ways, we sympathise with where the Rebels are at off field.

"They're going through a lot of the things we're going through."

Force veteran Matt Hodgson, who is a director of the Rugby Union Players' Association, is still pushing for the ARU to retain all five Australian teams.

That prospect appears dim, meaning Friday night is likely to be the last ever clash between the Rebels and the Force.

But the opposing sides aren't viewing it as a duel to the death.

"We certainly don't see it as an us versus them scenario. In a lot of ways, we see it as us and them versus everybody else," Wessels said.

"I think both teams will just be pleased to be able to express ourselves on the field.

"Ultimately we do this job because we love rugby, and that's what we're going to be able to do tomorrow night."

The retiring Hodgson will miss the match with a calf injury and will play his farewell game in next week's home clash with the Waratahs.

Skipper Ben McCalman (shoulder) is also missing but the Force welcome back winger Chance Peni (groin) and flyhalf Jono Lance (broken hand).

The Rebels are without injured Wallabies winger Sefa Naivalu (ankle).


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Source: AAP



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