Melbourne Rebels 2024

[Dan54]

Dropping a side will reduce the TV revenue by more then 20% for content, will open up Sanzar and NZFU lawsuit as RA have agreed to 5 teams until 2030.

I actully believe the deal with Sanzaar is for particapation in Super. and not the number of teams involved. I would very much doubt anyway whether Sanzaar/NZR etc would even consider a lawsuit if a team went broke etc, hasn't there already been talk of teams being invlved in a world club championship? I not about Stan/9 of course, and maybe some kind of cut, but have heard nothing happening like that in England when teams have had to leave the Champiuonship (though could possibly of happened quietly).

 

[Rebel man]

Out of curiosity Rebel man, were you born and bred in Melbourne or relocated from a rugby playing town?

100%, never lived anywhere else. Nobody else in the family likes rugby either so I grew to love it on my own not because I had a dad, mum aunt, uncle, grandparent or brother get me into it

 

[dru]

there’s a free to air tv deal you are totally ignoring.

The tv contract would have to be reworked

My only broadcast expertise is being a dedicated rugby follower for some time, hardly a strength but still, anyone can apply a sniff test...

It also ignores the commercial offers which are consistent (low) with (low) content. It also ignores the drop in viewers from the state that was just cast adrift. It also ignores the deal with NZRU which was drawing blood from stone in order to split at (or closer to) a 50/50 basis. As noted it is a breach of contract.

When we cast adrift a State those fans do not magically reappear condensed in the numbers of other States. You've just reduced the fans and viewership. It also reduces the amount of rugby being watched on any format because, well there is less being broadcast.

I would have thought that Streaming services are using the subscription fees in order to roughly cover cost, or go close to it. I would have thought that profitability is built on the opportunity of building advertising revenue. Rugby fans aught represent an interesting opportunity for advertisers as on the whole it is exposer to reasonable disposable cash. Now that wont be what happens with mega streaming services like Netflix but they are apparently not lining up for Super Rugby.

 

[Yoda]

100%, never lived anywhere else. Nobody else in the family likes rugby either so I grew to love it on my own not because I had a dad, mum aunt, uncle, grandparent or brother get me into it

A rare breed in AFL loving Melbourne!

 

[Rebel man]

A rare breed in AFL loving Melbourne!

Look I still love my AFL don’t get me wrong but love the Rebels every bit as much

 

[oztimmay]

A rare breed in AFL loving Melbourne!

+1 for me. Born and bred here. There are a few of us methinks.

 

[Highlander35]

There it is.

Formally in VA, license transferred from RV to RA, already leaning on the Vic Government for ongoing future stuff. Everything we already inferred.

 

[Dctarget]

,

The Melbourne Rebels wish to provide clarity on the current situation facing the Club. The following statement is set to be issued by Rugby Australia in collaboration with the Melbourne Rebels at 10am this morning. We will continue to keep you updated during the process and appreciate your ongoing support.







RUGBY AUSTRALIA CONFIRMS NEXT STEPS FOR MELBOURNE REBELS

30 January 2024

Rugby Australia (RA) has affirmed its commitment to Rugby in Victoria after the Melbourne Rebels entered voluntary administration on Monday night.

As a result, the club’s Super Rugby licence has been transferred to RA, which will now operate the club for the foreseeable future.

RA will assume responsibility for player and staff payments from this week to ensure the Melbourne Rebels take the field in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s competitions.

As RA works with administrators, it will focus on a viable professional Rugby footprint in Melbourne that can be sustainable and commercially successful in the future.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh says the Rebels’ players and staff will be supported through this time.

“We are sad to see the Melbourne Rebels fall into administration under its current owner, Rugby Victoria,” said Waugh.

“RA is committed to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels play in the 2024 Super Rugby competitions and, as such, we have assumed responsibility for payment to players and staff as we support their preparation for the new season.

“As custodians of the game, we are determined to ensure that RA is making responsible decisions for a sustainable and successful future – we will work with the Rebels and the relevant stakeholders to that end.”

Super Rugby Pacific’s Super Round, set to take place on 1-3 March at AAMI Park, will not be impacted.

Waugh said Rugby Australia would continue its dialogue with the Victorian Government in relation to the future of the Melbourne Rebels.

“The Victorian Government has been a long-standing and significant supporter of professional and community Rugby,” he said.

“Through our strong partnership – forged through decades of staging major events in Melbourne – our focus is to work with the Victorian Government and its key agencies, including Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust, to ensure the Rebels’ participation in the 2024 Super Rugby season and the continuation of professional Rugby in the state.”

Melbourne Rebels CEO Baden Stephensonsays the organisation is determined to fulfill its commitments for the 2024 season.

“Our focus as an organisation is to ensure we can deliver the 2024 season, perform well in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s competitions, and to position our club in the best possible way for the future,” said Stephenson.

“Thank you to the Rebels’ players and staff, our partners, and especially the members and fans for their support and patience during this time.”






Best Regards,
Baden Stephenson | Chief Executive Officer
Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union

 

[SouthernX]

My only broadcast expertise is being a dedicated rugby follower for some time, hardly a strength but still, anyone can apply a sniff test...

It also ignores the commercial offers which are consistent (low) with (low) content. It also ignores the drop in viewers from the state that was just cast adrift. It also ignores the deal with NZRU which was drawing blood from stone in order to split at (or closer to) a 50/50 basis. As noted it is a breach of contract.

When we cast adrift a State those fans do not magically reappear condensed in the numbers of other States. You've just reduced the fans and viewership. It also reduces the amount of rugby being watched on any format because, well there is less being broadcast.

I would have thought that Streaming services are using the subscription fees in order to roughly cover cost, or go close to it. I would have thought that profitability is built on the opportunity of building advertising revenue. Rugby fans aught represent an interesting opportunity for advertisers as on the whole it is exposer to reasonable disposable cash. Now that wont be what happens with mega streaming services like Netflix but they are apparently not lining up for Super Rugby.

channel 9 would rather broadcast free to air into somewhere like Melbourne then ACT

if you get rid of one of the teams (like the kiwis are asking for us) the Saturday night free to air lineup suddenly becomes a total boring rotarion.

it’s usually always the aussie darbys on the Saturday night.

5th team is needed. Melbourne is the second largest tv market in Australia.. if rugby Australia chooses to keep the brumbies over the rebels then they are dumb and not making the correct commercial decision because nostalgia got in the way.

 

[Dctarget]

Doesn’t read well for 2025 onwards, me thinks it’s curtains

 

[Highlander35]

C'est la vie.

Wonder if Canham has a scottish granny.

 

[oztimmay]

Doesn’t read well for 2025 onwards, me thinks it’s curtains

It's probably because they can't commit beyond that period due to the expiry of the broadcast agreement.

RA is hedging their bets, too - a professional Rugby footprint in Victoria can mean Rebels stay, Brumbies move, or something else. I'll always back a five-team comp, so we need to work out how to sustain a Melbourne team.

I am glad the players and staff have some certainty for this year, and we must confirm ASAP the future beyond 2024. Otherwise, we risk our entire roster leaving, taking us back to 2011 again (start-up).

Onwards to round one, peeps. I expect to see you all there!

 

[Members Section]

& rugby in this country hits yet another low

 

[Rebel man]

+1 for me. Born and bred here. There are a few of us methinks.

Good to hear

 

[Scooter]

+1 for me. Born and bred here. There are a few of us methinks.

Me too born and bred Victorian.

 

[Slim 293]

channel 9 would rather broadcast free to air into somewhere like Melbourne then ACT

if you get rid of one of the teams (like the kiwis are asking for us) the Saturday night free to air lineup suddenly becomes a total boring rotarion.

it’s usually always the aussie darbys on the Saturday night.

5th team is needed. Melbourne is the second largest tv market in Australia.. if rugby Australia chooses to keep the brumbies over the rebels then they are dumb and not making the correct commercial decision because nostalgia got in the way.

1. Channel 9 technically don't broadcast into the ACT.
2. Yes, a 5th team is needed.
3. It's not about RA choosing the Brumbies over the Rebels... as long as the Brumbies don't fold then they're not going anywhere.

 

[SouthernX]

1. Channel 9 technically don't broadcast into the ACT.
2. Yes, a 5th team is needed.
3. It's not about RA choosing the Brumbies over the Rebels... as long as the Brumbies don't fold then they're not going anywhere.

I did preface my comment before that the 4 team scenario seems to largely be driven from the Kiwis.

agree with your points thought.

 

[Derpus]

& rugby in this country hits yet another low

People keep saying rugby has hit rock bottom but from where I sit there's plenty to go yet. Endgame, as Reg raised in a pretty decent frontpage article a few years ago, is that we return to full blown amateurism.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

People keep saying rugby has hit rock bottom but from where I sit there's plenty to go yet. Endgame, as Reg raised in a pretty decent frontpage article a few years ago, is that we return to full blown amateurism.

@Pfitzy the Demi God

Already looking at office furniture. Ergonomic of course.

 

[Dan54]

I did preface my comment before that the 4 team scenario seems to largely be driven from the Kiwis.

agree with your points thought.

I actually haven't heard anyone from NZR talking of cut teams etc, only from Aus. It's not really on radar over here that I have seen or heard. Most rugby people when discussion of super rugby and Aussie teams just shrug and say who the f*** knows what is happening there. From NZR the only thing I have seen in last while (since it been talked about publicly) is CEO saying when asked what he thought is saying it's Aussie's problem or decision, and it's completely up to them.
From here it looks almost completely Aus driven discussion. Even online generally the only kiwis that seem to talk about it are ones that live in Oz as a rule, it's funny when you don't live there, you don't feel like you got a finger on the pulse of what's going on?? I say the same about rugby here.