England qualified Harry Potter included in Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby squad
The Melbourne Rebels have confirmed their full playing squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season – including wing wizard Harry Potter.
In what marks Melbourne’s tenth season in the competition, the Rebels have added a mix of depth, experience and local talent among the fourteen new faces who join the twenty-six players retained from their 2019 campaign.
Potter signed for Melbourne in August after proving himself during a spellbinding stint in the NRC with Sydney University.
“But it’s nothing I haven’t heard before so it’s easy to laugh it off,” Potter told Fox Sports earlier this year. “I’ve seen all the movies but haven’t read any of the books, which is quite disappointing for a lot of people because they make jokes I don’t understand.”
Potter is one of number of new signing to join the various Wallaby stars already at the club.
“At the conclusion of every World Cup cycle it’s common to see mass movement in squad lists as players head overseas or look for fresh opportunities,” said Melbourne Rebels GM of Rugby and Pathways Nick Ryan.
“We’re really proud we have been able to buck that trend and retain two-thirds of our squad. It is a direct consequence of our objective to build more cohesion and all our re-signings over the last 12 months is a testament to the belief this group has in our future.”
In the last six months, the Rebels have re-signed seven players, including returning Wallaby debutant Isi Naisarani and John Eales Medal winner, Marika Koroibete.
The team can also confirm the return of outside back Tom English for the 2020 season, who will be in a race with Foundation Rebel Luke Jones to see who can be first to 100 Rebels caps.
“With the team ten years old we are seeing the first strong wave of Victorian players set for regular starting spots and several exciting local prospects in our academy system.
“We acknowledge there were aspects of our program and performance that weren’t up to scratch last season. At the same time, we did a lot well and it’s important for us to build from a stable base and add some quality players in key positions to add depth and belief to the whole squad and really round out our full roster.”
Australian sport could have a new cult hero on its hands after none other than Harry Potter signed a Super Rugby contract with the Melbourne Rebels.https://t.co/8qxvxn2zo2
— Fox Rugby (@FOXRUGBY) August 28, 2019
With the departure of experiences halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper to Kintetsu in Japan, the Melburnians are set to enter the season with a new-look halves pairing under the guidance of attack coach, Shaun Berne.
“At scrumhalf, we have three new guys who will be scrapping it out in James Tuttle, Frank Lomani and Ryan Louwrens,” said Berne.
“Frank is an international and is really developing as a player, whilst James and Ryan have great qualities and Super Rugby experience. We don’t know yet who the frontrunner is, which is exciting. It all boils down to how hard they want to compete for that spot in pre-season.
'There is a lot of politics in sport and maybe we were a little bit naive'
– @heagneyl runs the rule of whether attitudes in Ireland are mellowing regarding the IRFU vow to never again bid to host a Rugby World Cup
https://t.co/cJoQNTWZjC— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 23, 2019
“Beyond that, we’re very fortunate to have some sensational backline talent with Matt To’omua looking set to play his first full season with us, joining Marika, Dane and Reece in returning from the World Cup.
“I also know that being a Wallaby doesn’t guarantee a starting spot. We’ve brought in one of the NRC’s best talents in Andrew Deegan, Andrew Kellaway is back in Australia after his time abroad and young Melbourne magician Harry Potter has huge potential. I’m getting pretty pumped just thinking about it.”
In the pack, the fight for a spot in the back and front rows garners the most attention.
Wallabies Naisarani, Hardwick and Jones will compete against the likes of Rob Leota, Brad Wilkin and new recruits Michael Wells, Boyd Killingworth and Josh Kemeny for a place in the matchday twenty-three.
“Competition is the best medicine for improving standards,” identified forwards coach Geoff Parling.
“We made giants strides in our set-piece last year but we realise the bar must be raised again if we are to challenge week in and week out in all aspects of scrum, line-out and open play. The new faces in the group have already brought a new edge and class.”
Up front, experienced campaigners Ruan Smith and Cameron Orr are the Rebels new book-ends, and former Sharks lock Koegelenberg bolsters the retention of Matt Philip, Ross Haylett-Petty and emerging local talent Trevor Hosea.
The squad also includes two new South African signings: lock Gideon Koegelenberg (Sharks) and prop Cabous Eloff (Blue Bulls). Eloff was given a Rebels Development Squad Contract for 2020.
The 1.2km time trial begins ? #WeAreRugby pic.twitter.com/wkDU3cIdAQ
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) November 22, 2019
“We took a really conservative approach with getting Jordan Uelese back on-field in 2019. His time in the Test arena will see him come back a more mature player and the contest he has with Anaru Rangi will take both their game’s to a new level.
“The trends we’re seeing emerge in the game at present are really a nod to the past of disciplined, tight, physical forward play and we’re developing a pack that will do just that.”
The Rebels kick off their 2020 campaign against the Sunwolves in Japan on February 1 with their first home game in Melbourne against the Waratahs on February 14, 2020.
Melbourne Rebels 2020 Super Rugby Squad:
Jermaine Ainsley, Angus Cottrell, Andrew Deegan*, Cabous Eloff**, Tom English, Mees Erasmus, Pone Faamausili, Matt Gibbon, Esei Haangana, Richard Hardwick, Ross Haylett-Petty, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Trevor Hosea, Luke Jones, Andrew Kellaway, Josh Kemeny*, Boyd Killingworth*, Gideon Koegelenberg*, Marika Koroibete, Rob Leota, Frank Lomani*, Ryan Louwrens*, Jack Maddocks^, Campbell Magnay, Billy Meakes, Declan Moore**, Isi Naisarani, Cameron Orr*, Matt Philip, Harry Potter *, Anaru Rangi, Fereti Sa’aga, Ruan Smith*, Matt Toomua, Semisi Tupou, James Tuttle*, Jordan Uelese, Michael Wells*, Brad Wilkin.
* denotes new recruit to Rebels for 2020
** denotes Rebels Development Squad Contract for 2020
^ Jack Maddocks is currently on secondment with the Australian Men’s Sevens Program
Related articles:
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments