Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver says they remain committed to the plan of cutting one team from Super Rugby next season.

The ARU has been locked in an ongoing battle with the Rebels and Force over plans to remove one team from the competition.

With legal proceedings looming, the ARU will now head into arbitration with Rugby Western Australia on Monday, with that process likely to decide the Force’s fate.

Both the Force and privately-owned Rebels believe they should be guaranteed a Super Rugby place until 2020.

However, Pulver stated once again on Thursday that the ARU would not deviate from plans to cut one team.

'My position is unchanged in terms of the fact that we need to go to four teams. Frankly, Australia doesn't have either the financial capability or the player depth to justify staying at five teams. That position has not changed.'

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images