It is understood the diminutive Fairbanks, the former Queensland and Brumbies inside centre, was politely told thanks, but no thanks. The Rebels were interested in big centres only.
This is why the Rebels chased NSW Waratahs centre Tom Carter and still hope veteran Wallabies and Brumbies midfielder Stirling Mortlock will move to Melbourne.
The Rebels are also going hard for dynamic Auckland Blues inside centre Benson Stanley, who has an Australian passport after being born in NSW.
What this tells us is that Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen is looking to create the Melbourne team in the image of his all-conquering Wallabies side from 1998 to 2001.
When Macqueen was coaching the Wallabies he coined the phrase "foracks", an amalgam of forwards and backs.
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Related Coverage
* Where are big names the Rebels promised The Australian, 4 days ago
* Rebels set for signing spree The Australian, 9 days ago
* Cordingley courted by Rebels Fox Sports, 11 Mar 2010
* Rebels to poach gun Bath coach Fox Sports, 9 Mar 2010
* Mortlock close to Rebels decision Herald Sun, 23 Feb 2010
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Macqueen demanded forwards run and pass like backs and backs ruck and maul like forwards, which was why he liked big, physical midfielders such as Dan Herbert and Nathan Grey following the retirement of Tim Horan.
Indications are that Macqueen is placing emphasis on two areas of his success with the Wallabies.
Under Macqueen, the Rebels will play a highly structured game and he is seeking intelligent players to carry out the game plan.
The distinguishing features of the Macqueen-coached Wallabies were attention to detail and innovation.
They could take on more athletically gifted All Blacks teams and more physical Springboks sides and beat them with smarts.
It could be argued that in re-creating this style of play, Macqueen is living in the past and there are whispers that after 10 years out of coaching, he is out of touch with the modern game.
Don't believe it.
Macqueen achieved extraordinary success in guiding the NSW Waratahs to an undefeated season in 1991, taking the Brumbies to the Super 12 final in just their second year of existence in 1997 and winning world cups, Bledisloe cups, Tri-Nations trophies and British and Irish Lions series with the Wallabies.
Macqueen, you see, is a perfectionist. He demands nothing less in any activity whether it is art, surfing, business or rugby.
He has also stayed closely involved with rugby as a consultant to various unions and as a member of the IRB's rugby committee, which wrote the recent experimental law variations.
If there is one thing Macqueen may have to come to grips with, it is dealing with Generation-Y players, who have known nothing but professional rugby.
When Macqueen coached the Waratahs they were amateurs. When he coached the Brumbies the game was in transition from amateurism to professionalism.
In many ways, today's young rugby players have more in common with AFL and NRL players than the Wallabies of yesteryear.
Macqueen was always one step ahead. As they say, everything old is new again.
lDon't tell anyone, but backrower Scott Higginbotham has re-signed with the Queensland Reds.
It's meant to be a secret. Not only have the Reds deliberately not announced Higginbotham's re-signing, but they have told him not to tell anyone.
Why the secrecy is anyone's guess. Before the Reds departed for South Africa last Friday for a three-game tour, coach Ewen McKenzie revealed 22 players had committed to the team for next season.
The Reds did announce the re-signings of the Fainga'a twins, Anthony and Saia, but McKenzie said they would not announce any further names because they wanted to focus on the "here and now" rather than 2011.
McKenzie's coyness has puzzled observers. The Brumbies and NSW Waratahs are announcing re-signings almost on a daily basis.
After so many woeful seasons, if the Reds had some good news to tell, you would think they would be screaming it from the rooftops.
