Aussie Pro Rugby
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Letting the Rebels die would see the Force finally flourish
It's time to accept that Super Rugby and Melbourne hasn't worked out, clearly. It's a battle not worth the money.
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there was some discussion at training on tuesday, i should add that two of our coaches are involoved with the rebels with youth and the womens teams...and they hadn't been told anything
the most believable suggestion was Rugby Vic gives up there licence, let RA do what they want with it and just makes the Axemen state rep team the highest level just doing small end of year tours like they do currently
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@NTA said in Aussie Rugby:
Dunno if that is accurate. You're asking people to move to Perth ffs...
I think the net effect would be to strengthen QLD and ACT. It might work for NSW if they ever get their talent identification right.
I think they'll go fine because they have fans. People are invested in the team and are interested in rugby.
That brings a certain amount of money in, that makes success easier. Players will want to be part of a competitive team. If, for instance, the Tahs keep fucking up players will choose Perth over Sydney if it helps their career
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Perth flourishing is an absolute myth. Their entire history is littered with being a team full of outcasts or past-their-primes from other teams.
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I don't think that's true. In their first few years when they were bolstered by (mythical) Firepower money, they had a cracking side. Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Cameron Shepherd, David Pocock, Brendan Cannon, Nathan Sharpe, Brock James, Matt Henjak etc.
Then the money disappeared and so did the players.
Interestingly they now have arguable the best roster of the Australian super sides. Twiggy has bought out the chequebook and they have a pretty decent cohort with a lot of depth.
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@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
Their entire history is littered with being a team full of outcasts or past-their-primes from other teams.
In recent years that's true.. that's the point. Before that people like Pocock and JOC started their careers in the west and they managed to recruit players who still had plenty to offer.
Loads of money has been pumped into the Rebels over the years, however they don't have a support base. You can't force something to grow where there is no interest.
What if the Rebels were never created back in 2010? The Force had a good base at the time.. maybe they would've grown into a top side?
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The Force in the 3 seasons before the Rebels began were competitive: Force 2007-2009
19 wins 18 losses and 2 draws
Breaking that down against different nations:
v NZ Sides: 5 wins 9 losses 1 draw
v Aussies: 5 wins 3 losses 1 draw
v Saffas: 9 wins 6 lossesIn those years they beat the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes & Highlanders (twice) plus had a draw vs the Crusaders
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@Duluth said in Aussie Rugby:
@mariner4life said in Aussie Rugby:
Their entire history is littered with being a team full of outcasts or past-their-primes from other teams.
In recent years that's true.. that's the point. Before that people like Pocock and JOC started their careers in the west and they managed to recruit players who still had plenty to offer.
Loads of money has been pumped into the Rebels over the years, however they don't have a support base. You can't force something to grow where there is no interest.
What if the Rebels were never created back in 2010? The Force had a good base at the time.. maybe they would've grown into a top side?
pretty much agree with this except just to add it must be hard to grow support with the chopping and changing of the comp and eventually being dropped
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@Kiwiwomble said in Aussie Rugby:
there was some discussion at training on tuesday, i should add that two of our coaches are involoved with the rebels with youth and the womens teams...and they hadn't been told anything
the most believable suggestion was Rugby Vic gives up there licence, let RA do what they want with it and just makes the Axemen state rep team the highest level just doing small end of year tours like they do currently
Rugby Vic doesn't have the licence as it reverts to AR when they officially went under, from what I've read. Pretty normal
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@Machpants yeah, sorry poorly worded but thats what i was saying, just let them have it and not try and get it back
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It's a no-brainer what to do. A gift from heaven type opportunity.
And there will be no hope for Aussie rugby if the current board don't take the only sensible option
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350164901/cash-strapped-super-rugby-club-set-learn-their-fate
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Waugh targeting early call 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.
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@Duluth said in Aussie Rugby:
Letting the Rebels die would see the Force finally flourish
It's time to accept that Super Rugby and Melbourne hasn't worked out, clearly. It's a battle not worth the money.
Only the stunning incompetence of RA could've attempted to make a success of a team in a region that has near total dominance by one code and your closest competitor (the Storm) is wildly successful.
And then do that at the expense of a team surrounded by expats from NZ, SA and England. Baffling.
Hopefully as the article mentions, this could be good for rugby in Oz generally and SR specifically.
Unless of course RA continue to whip a dead horse.
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Would the Rebels be considered an option to grow fans if they were actually any fucking good?
I don't live there, but in OZ especially with the competition for bums on seats (eyes on streams), it seems to me that if you aren't a shot of winning shit, you aren't shit. Especially in that market. I agree that it is pushing shit uphill. But league did it - maybe first mover advantage and their success fucks it all up anyway.
Australia can't support 5 good sides with their current rugby population, but if they could add good international players, the Rebels / Force could be much stronger. I don't know where the money comes from of course.
This is all to say that I've actually kind of come around to the idea that for Super rugby to be strong we actually need more teams. Losing one only seems to make this competition look like a dog and pony show.
Unless, unless, they use this opportunity to make the competition have a proper home and away for all teams with a top 4 playoff series. Could that simply be the answer?
I dunno, I've had one too many wines after a great day at the beach. I reserve the right to say I meant none of it when I wake up tomorrow.
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@gt12 the way i figure it, for a team to be popular it needs at least one of three things...
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a long history in the community so people support them because their dad and granddad did, see lots of UK football teams
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be the only show in town, see US franchises when they move to a new area
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buy some early success, people love to jump on the bandwagon and then once you're on some will stay for the ride, see the storm
the rebels have none of those
in saying that i kind of agree, i understand people that want only the highest quality but im not worried myself, i enjoy watch club rugby which is mile off these guys level
I think the issue with that here, other than money which is a big part, is how the rebels were chosen to survive despite the above when other "better" option like for force were dropped. and now COVID is over id rather see the jags back....or even a new Japanese team (if correctly funded)
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Soon after news surfaced that Super Rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels was slipping into voluntary administration, French Top 14 and UK premiership rugby clubs were on the phones seeking to capitalise on the chaos by securing the signatures of star Wallabies on the Rebels’ books.
Props Taniela Tupou and Pone Fa’amausili, playmaker Carter Gordon and skipper Rob Leota are in the sights of overseas agents and clubs, while lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, who has not long returned from the English Premiership, has also attracted interest from Japanese clubs.
With Rugby Australia refusing to guarantee the future of the Rebels beyond this season, the dark arts of player recruitment is in overdrive with the long-term plans of Tupou and Gordon, in particular, being gauged by northern clubs.
It’s understood Tupou is already attracting informal interest north of $1.5m a season from Europe for his talents.
Good thing McLennan signed that wing from the NRL!
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Invitation to attend online forum:
Our commitment is to keep you informed and we invite you to join us for an online forum to discuss the impact of voluntary administration and share your valuable insights as we navigate this challenging but crucial phase together. Baden Stephenson, Kevin Foote and representatives from PwC will be in attendance to answer questions.When: Monday 5th February
Time: 5:30pm -
Interesting article from the Oz (again: Murdoch rag). Not to say it isn't correct in a "directional" sense - chaos presents opportunity, after all - but one thing there makes me smile: any name other than Tupou's being mentioned.
I'm not saying Gordon, Fa'amausili, and Leota aren't talented and capable, but given they're hardly game breakers, it seems weird they'd get a mention.
