What happens to the players of the cut franchise?
Draft system? Surely they'd have to be allocated evenly (or with a bias towards the most under performing franchise, e.g. the team not cut from the Force / Rebels).
I'd personally prefer for the Rebels to be cut, with the Brumbies to play 2-4 games there per season, although private ownership makes that hard to handle. I see no reason why the Rebels should remain over the Force.
Also, if the Force are cut, I see a decent proportion of their player base choosing the Europe option over reallocation to other franchises, which makes the cut pointless for all but financial reasons. I see this group as largely being the WA natives and those who identify WA as their "home" e.g. McCalman, Hodgson, DHP, RHP etc.
The ARU also has to ensure that players go to franchises where they will get a start regularly otherwise the players who we wish to reallocate will simply go overseas. No starting XV player at the Force / Rebels will be content simply being a depth player elsewhere.
E.g. Lance has to go to the Brumbies or Rebels to be guaranteed a start. He won't sit behind Foley or Quade.
I should also make it clear that, as an ARU apologist, I am fucking pissed off about this decision. Rugby union will not survive in Australia with four fucking professional teams. The ARU need to double-down on grass roots support and make the NRC a viable professional competition so we are eventually in a place where we can peel away from the NZRU-indulgent shit show that is Super rugby.