There’s no suggestion the Super Rugby board ever agreed to cut the Western Force from its competition, a Sydney court has heard.

Barrister Robert Newlinds SC told the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday it was the Australian Rugby Union’s decision to axe the Force not SANZAAR (South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentina rugby).

Mr Newlinds, acting for RugbyWA, said at the moment any suggestion SANZAAR had agreed to cut one of the Australian teams from the Super Rugby competition was wrong.

The barrister made the comments during an appeal before Justice David Hammerschlag by RugbyWA against an arbitrator’s decision to back the ARU’s move to drop the Force for the 2018 season.

RugbyWA claims that under the current agreement with the ARU they are entitled to stay in the Super Rugby competition until the end of the broadcast deal in 2020.

But the ARU believes that a new competition planned for 2018 which will involve cutting the number of teams from 18 to 15 means it is an entirely new broadcast deal.

The appeal continues.