Rugby Australia 'want to accelerate that decision' on Rebels' future
The Melbourne Rebels will know their long-term Super fate sooner rather than later, with Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh keen to accelerate a decision on their future in the competition.
Aware that uncertainty when the Rebels and Western Force were on the chopping block in 2017 dragged on for months and caused much anguish for players and staff, Waugh is looking to move swiftly.
The financially stricken Melbourne club entered voluntary administration on Monday night, with Rugby Australia (RA) taking over the licence and running of the club alongside administrator PwC.
The Rebels management remain in place.
RA’s chief executive was in Melbourne on Wednesday to meet with the Victorian government’s sports minister Steve Dimopoulos and representatives from the government-backed Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, who are reportedly owed $1 million by the Rebels in match-day fees for the use of AAMI Park.
He described the meetings as “constructive”, with the state government already committed to hosting a match in this year’s Wales international series, and a British and Irish Lions Test next year.
Waugh also met with Melbourne players and staff after RA guaranteed their wages and presence in the 2024 competition, which gets under way on February 23.
“We’ve always had a very strong relationship with the Victorian government and we’re having very sensible and constructive conversations around the viability of a provincial professional team in Victoria. Those conversations will be ongoing,” Waugh said.
With cash-strapped RA juggling the costs of the men’s and women’s high-performance programs, and their investment in sevens and youth pathways, Waugh offered no guarantee about Australia continuing with five Super Rugby teams beyond the coming season.
RA has tipped in tens of millions of dollars in funding and loan write-offs to keep the Rebels afloat since the club’s inception in 2011, desperate to maintain a footprint in Victoria.
But the governing body’s own precarious financial position, along with Melbourne’s reported $10 million debt, may leave RA with no choice.
“I’ve said it’s really important from a high-performance perspective, but also living within our means and being financially responsible for the game,” the former Test flanker said.
“This has certainly accelerated faster than what we thought it would, and we will review all of those options.
“As we go through the analysis of 2024 and the different financial elements of the Rebels, then we’ll look through as to what 2025 and beyond looks like.
“You look at all the options and different scenarios across the game to ensure that you’re setting the game up in the country for success in perpetuity.”
While the focus remains on delivering the 2024 season successfully, Waugh said it was important the Rebels know their fate as soon as possible.
The side will play their first trial of the year on Saturday, hosting the NSW Waratahs.
“We’re not going to put a time frame on it, but we want to accelerate that decision (making) as much as we possibly can,” he said.
“It’s actually ironing out 2024 immediately and then having a broader look at 2025 and beyond. That work will be done in parallel.
“The conversations, and the strategy, needs to accelerate given where we are, almost February.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 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.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 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.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments