Perth gets decision ahead of Melbourne

George Gregan backed Perth's bid.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) today announced that Perth has been chosen as the base for a Australian team to join the expanded Super 14 rugby competition in 2006.

Perth beat Melbourne in a vote among ARU board members.

Perth joins Australia's three teams in the current Super 12 competition -- the ACT Brumbies, NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds.

The Perth bid emphasised the city's location on Australia's west coast as a stopping off point for Super 14 teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Their application was supported by a A$25 million ($26.81 million) government-backed upgrade of its planned home ground and public support from Wallabies captain George Gregan.

Based on submissions provided by Rugby WA, the team will be located in Perth, playing matches at Subiaco Oval in their first year and Members Equity Stadium from 2007.

ARU chairman Bob Tuckey paid tribute to both the Victorian and the Western Australian rugby unions and their respective state governments, for their submissions.

"This is an historic day for rugby in Australia," Tuckey said.

"The board is unanimous in its view that a Super 14 team based in Perth will be an enormous success and will make an enduring contribution to Australian rugby," Tuckey said.

"The board was faced with an extremely complex decision based on detailed analysis of two compelling bids. Each had great merit but only one could be chosen on this occasion. We are conscious that while this is an exciting and historic day for rugby, inevitably there will be some disappointment."

ARU managing director Gary Flowers emphasised that no single criteria determined the outcome, but rather the submissions were judged across a range of criteria that led to the ARU board forming a view.

"Just as I urge Western Australians to now embrace this opportunity, equally I urge the Victorian rugby community to continue the work which has seen rugby thrive in their state."

A management team will shortly be appointed with its first task to employ a chief executive.

The management team will consist of representatives of both the Rugby WA and the ARU.

- AAP