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Monty Ioane makes the shift to Super Rugby
Monty Ioane is coming home.
After nine years playing overseas, the Melbourne Rebels are excited to unveil Ioane as the club’s latest signing for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season, with Ioane committing to the Rebels until at least the end of the 2023 season.
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The acquisition of the capped international who has made 14 appearances for Italy will bolster the Rebels’ stocks on the wing with his explosive pace set to ignite the AAMI Park faithful.
After plying his trade as a junior at the Endeavour Hills Rugby Club, Ioane made his professional debut at just eighteen years old for Paris side, Stade Français in the Top 14.
Following a pair of eye-catching campaigns in the Mitre 10 Cup, Ioane signed with Italian side Benetton, where he played 81 matches over six seasons.
After being named in the PRO14 Dream Team for two straight campaigns (2018-2019 and 2019-2020), Ioane would win selection for the Italian national team, debuting in the Autumn Nations Cup Final against Wales.
Ioane says returning to where his career first began was a dream come true.
“Growing up in a strong rugby family, Melbourne was where my love for the game first began”, said Ioane.
“It’s honestly a dream to return back home and represent my city at the highest level now. I never thought the opportunity would arise but here I am today and it’s one of the most exciting moments of my playing career. I can’t wait for the opportunity to push my case and run out onto AAMI Park wearing a Rebels jersey.”
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“Looking back on my time in juniors, I’ve had some great memories playing for Endeavour Hills, especially from under-12’s when I was captain and we ended up winning the grand final against Northcote.
“When I started my junior rugby here, it was tough, but looking forward to where Melbourne has come with rugby now and the pathways available, it’s honestly incredible.
“Having homegrown players playing for the Rebels is special and as a Victorian, I have great pride seeing the opportunities created for the kids, that next generation, and giving them something to dream of and pursue.”
Melbourne Rebels GM of Rugby, Nick Stiles, said the Club was thrilled to bring home another proud Victorian.
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“It’s great to have such a quality talent and person like Monty join the Melbourne Rebels,” said Stiles.
“After growing up playing in the Victorian rugby community, it’s been fantastic to see Monty’s pride in the growth of rugby in our state and the opportunities that are now available for young, hungry, and talented Victorian players.
“Monty will obviously be a valuable addition on the field, but off it, he’ll bring great value mentoring our next generation of Victorian Rebels and showing them what it takes to develop into a successful Test player.
“It’s a really exciting time for Victorian rugby. We’ve just had the senior and junior grand finals, Melbourne’s hosting a Bledisloe match for the first time since 2010 with five Rebels pushing for selection and next week, we’ll be hosting the inaugural Victorian Cup Series which will see our state’s best Club players receiving the opportunity to test themselves against Super Rugby competition and compete for a spot on the Rebels tour of Japan.”
– Melboure Rebels
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
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