Melbourne Rebels hold player meeting following shock reports in Aussie press
The Melbourne Rebels insist they haven’t entered voluntary administration but the move is potentially on the table for the financially-stricken Super Rugby Pacific club.
Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson addressed the playing group before training on Friday after reports emerged that the club, carrying debts of around $9 million, had formally entered into voluntary administration.
The club is believed to owe the Australian Taxation Office and about $1 million in hire fees for their home ground AAMI Park, managed by the state government’s Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust.
A source said that Stephenson reassured the players that their contracts and salaries were guaranteed for the 2024 season, with their first game looming against the ACT Brumbies on February 23.
Melbourne have lured the likes of Wallabies star Taniela Tupou, who moved from the Queensland Reds, and former Test flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who was playing in the UK.
The Rugby Union Players Association has also met with the players to reaffirm their payments would be met under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Stephenson also emailed club members saying the board was continuing to work with Rugby Australia on their financial situation and future.
“The ongoing work with Rugby Australia is a testament to our shared commitment to ensuring the long-term viability and success of the Melbourne Rebels,” he wrote in an email.
“We assure you that our collaboration will persist as we collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
The club is working with insolvency firm Wexted Advisors, who have previously dealt with the NSW Waratahs, with the Rebels board meeting over the weekend in a bid to avoid going into administration.
Starved of revenue, the club has been hit hard by the financial woes of its key sponsor BRC Capital, whose chairman Paul Docherty also chairs the Rebels.
RA have guaranteed its presence in this year’s competition but not beyond, upsetting the Melbourne club which feels it has been singled out with other Super Rugby clubs also under severe financial pressure.
Five teams are needed to satisfy the current broadcast deal, which expires at the end of the 2025 season.
Melbourne haven’t made the Super Rugby finals in 12 seasons since being brought into the competition in 2011.
The Rebels have been contacted for comment.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
3 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
3 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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