Melbourne Rebels 2011

[topo]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I agree that Al Campbell would be a useful signing. Never quite made it as a test player but still a very good S14 player for a couple of years. A couple of years of hard tight 5 stuff in France shouldn't have hurt him. He's looked pretty the couple of times I've seen him. Coridas would be worth a punt as I have said before. I don't think the tahs will let Alcock go. They normally keep a spare contract up their sleeve for a bolter. I thought he was a pretty brave signing in the first place as he did not have a great deal of form in grade rugby or even Aus Schools rugby. At the time McCutcheon seemed a much more obvious choice. What about Nio Halangahu? He's a tough nut hooker who's got a lot of 1st grade experience and can usually mix it with the best of them. Currently playing in Ireland, I think.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I am disapointed James Stannard hasn't got a run. Perhaps he should just become a 7s specialist and enjoy the travel.

 

[TOCC]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

i heard that Link actually sounded out Hewat for a possible return to Australia to play for the Reds...

 

[en_force_er]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

i heard that Link actually sounded out Hewat for a possible return to Australia to play for the Reds...

Likewise SNK. He just wants to keep options open incase Hynes leaves.

Plus even if Hynes stays the Reds are still short a genuine Fullback specialist.

 

[Cutter]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I agree that Al Campbell would be a useful signing. Never quite made it as a test player but still a very good S14 player for a couple of years. A couple of years of hard tight 5 stuff in France shouldn't have hurt him. He's looked pretty the couple of times I've seen him. Coridas would be worth a punt as I have said before. I don't think the tahs will let Alcock go. They normally keep a spare contract up their sleeve for a bolter. I thought he was a pretty brave signing in the first place as he did not have a great deal of form in grade rugby or even Aus Schools rugby. At the time McCutcheon seemed a much more obvious choice. What about Nio Halangahu? He's a tough nut hooker who's got a lot of 1st grade experience and can usually mix it with the best of them. Currently playing in Ireland, I think.

You must be joking about Campbell. No mongrel, no dynamism, no good. When he played for the Wallabies was a lowpoint in selections. It was the same era as Fitter et al.

 

[stoff]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I am disapointed James Stannard hasn't got a run. Perhaps he should just become a 7s specialist and enjoy the travel.

That sort of travel gets old quick.

Also cutter - yeah maybe as an international, but was good enough (in the words of an old coach, meaning acceptable) as a super rugby player, especially if he is a bench level lock.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Waratahs hooker Adam Freier will kickstart his bid to return to the Wallaby side by playing for the Melbourne Rebels next year in the lead up to the World Cup.

The new Super 15 franchise announced the signing today, with coach Rod MacQueen pleased with his new recruit.

"Adam is one of the most respected players in Australian rugby," MacQueen said in a statement released by the club. "He is very highly regarded by his peers. During our discussions with him, we were particularly impressed by his commitment to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels are successful." he said.

Freier mentioned that Macqueen was a significant factor in him moving to the Rebels.

"It was no accident that Rod formed a great culture at the Brumbies. I was one of the young players that benefited from that culture. To now have the opportunity to help build one, with Rod - well that's something any player would love to be a part of," said Freier

Freier, a veteran of 25 Tests, is currently with the Waratahs and is on the verge of a comeback to Super rugby following a long spell out due to a back injury.

Freier is expected to make his return to the competitive rugby this week for his club side Randwick against Sydney University in what will be a rematch of last year's Shute Shield grand final.

The Rebels have recently announced it has recruited Stirling Mortlock, English five-eighth Danny Cipriani, Laurie Weeks, Richard Kingi and Welsh backrower Gareth Delve.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

looking a little like this possibly:

15 Danny Cipriani
14
13
12 Stirling Mortlcok
11 Peter Betham
10
9 Richard Kingi
8 Gareth Delve
7
6 Tim Davidson
5 Adam Byrnes
4 Luke Jones
3 Laurie Weeks
2 Adam Freier
1

16
17
18
19
20 Sam Cordingly
21
22

 

[fatprop]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Good purchase, Freier is a bloody good hooker, the best maul leader in the country and another quality leader for the Rebels.

 

[RugbyReg]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

yep, as I tweeted, I reckon he's the "Brett Robinson" signing.

I'd make him the skipper too at this stage. Unless they sign Rocky or Bismark.

 

[TheRiddler]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Forgive the scepticism but perhaps it should be more like this.

15
14
13
12
11 Peter Betham
10
9 Richard Kingi
8 Gareth Delve
7
6 Tim Davidson
5 Adam Byrnes
4 Luke Jones
3 Laurie Weeks
2
1

16
17
18
19
20
21
22

Injured and unavailable for selection : Danny Cipriani, Stirling Mortlcok, Sam Cordingly, Adam Freier

 

[DPK]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Cipriani's injured?

 

[fatprop]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Forgive the scepticism but perhaps it should be more like this.

15
14
13
12
11 Peter Betham
10
9 Richard Kingi
8 Gareth Delve
7
6 Tim Davidson
5 Adam Byrnes
4 Luke Jones
3 Laurie Weeks
2
1

16
17
18
19
20
21
22

Injured and unavailable for selection : Danny Cipriani, Stirling Mortlcok, Sam Cordingly, Adam Freier

:tard they have 12 months to get fit

 

[TheRiddler]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I was looking back at past history and then looking forward to week 2 of the 2011 season

 

[the gambler]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Dont worry Ridler, I got it and laughed. Agree with you as well unfortunately.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

It's good for Oz rugby for Freier to move to the Rebels. Like Whitaker at the Tahs before he will make a contribution to them out of scale to his playing ability. Incidentally it will mean that Fitzpatrick at the Tahs will get more game time and IMO it was what he anticipated when he refused the Force offer. So much for the naysayers who said he was making a career mistake.

My guess is that Ben Roberts will move into the Tahs pro Academy for 2011. Luke Holmes is in the 2010 wider training squad but Roberts looks like better long term value.

I'd make him the skipper too at this stage. Unless they sign Rocky or Bismark.

Me too, in fact Freier was my skipper in the Rebels thread started last October. I wouldn't pick BdP because he's a bit of a nutter, but on the other hand Krige captained the Springboks for a while, didn't he?

Some of my other picks were pretty bunk. I had Dennis, Carter and Douglas who have signed for the Tahs since, and Salvi (Brumbies). I got Davidson and Betham right but it looks like McKibbin won't be picked up now, but there is still hope for Beau Robinson.

Chris Alcock and Patrick McCutcheon were in my alternates but they have signed with the Tahs since also.
McCutcheon was in my alternates but he has signed with the Tahs since also.

 

[gone]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Lee - are you 100% on Alcock? I thought he was on a one year contract and I hadn't seen any announcement of him resigning... I may be wrong though.

 

[Lee Grant]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

It's me that's wrong. I was thinking of McCaffery.

I'll edit my post.

 

[en_force_er]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

Ben Cordias must must must go to the Rebels. The man has gone through a rough patch with injuries but I've heard nothing but good things about him.

I'm not 100% sure on how long he actually lived in Victoria but both the ARU and NSW websites say he is Geelong born. Geelong is a town of almost 200,000 people that has only one rugby club that plays in Victorian 2nd division with no U20 side. Which is ridiculous really.

Ben should be signed to Rebels, given he probably won't be offered another Tahs contract, and he must be linked with the Geelong Rams Rugby Club and Geelong Grammar (or Geelong College even) via the Rebel's club, business and school policy. Rugby's development in Victoria needs to be stepped up in areas other than Greater Melbourne.

I think everyone stands to gain something off Ben coming to the Rebels, Ben most of all.

 

[RugbyFuture]

Re: Rebels deadline ends, update here on what you hear.

I know its not a player but still important

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news...ng_news&cate_img=145.jpg&cate_rss=news_Sports

New Super 15 side signs general manager
Associated Press
2010-04-07 09:12 AM

Melbourne Rebels, the new Super 15 team beginning play next season, has announced the signing of former Athletics Australia chief executive Danny Corcoran as general manager of rugby operations.

The team said Wednesday that Corcoran had held similar posts at Australian Football League clubs Essendon and Melbourne.

The Rebels have signed a number of former and current test players, including British internationals Gareth Delve, the No. 8 for Wales, and England flyhalf Danny Cipriani.

Also signed in the past several weeks have been former Wallabies hooker Adam Freier, former Australia halfback and current French Grenoble player Sam Cordingley and 80-test Wallaby Stirling Mortlock.