Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest has called on Cameron Clyne to resign, claiming the ARU chairman lied about the reasons he chose to axe the Western Force.

Forrest says he has stumbled across legal advice sent to the ARU in February stating the Force was the best Super Rugby team to axe because the legal risk was low.

Forrest says the ARU’s axing of the Force was a charade and the franchise had been ambushed.

“It’s clear now with the document that I have just received that the Western Force was ambushed. It’s been bullied,” Forrest said.

“It shows clearly that in late February this year, the advice was received and taken to cut the Western Force for no other reason apart from legal advice.

“Well I’m here to say to the ARU you cannot bully this team. Your ambush has been sprung.

“You have now been discovered. Chairman of the ARU Mr Cameron Clyne, you’ve told me so many times that there was a broad spreadsheet of factors which were all based on merit and on fairness.

“And we all now know that was a charade.

“I ask you now to resign. This has been discovered. The secret is now out.

“The process from here on must become transparent. We must all come clean.”

Last week, Forrest offered the ARU a package worth about $50 million for them to reverse their decision to axe the Force.

A significant portion of that money would have gone into grass roots rugby, but the ARU rejected it.

The Force could still win their way back into the Super competition if their Supreme Court appeal is successful.

A judgement could be handed down by as early as this week.

Forrest says it’s not too late for the ARU board to reverse the decision.

He says Australian rugby can thrive with five professional teams.

Force great Matt Hodgson said he felt betrayed by Clyne, and also called on the chairman to quit.