Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Seen nothing heard nothing.
Would be shocked if overseas offers hadn't come.
Would be shocked if overseas offers hadn't come.
Melbourne Rebels Players - where are they going?
- Thread starter stillmissit
- Start date
codesports.com.au
Jamie Pandaram
5–7 minutes
The Waratahs’ hopes of landing a host of Melbourne Rebels stars are in tatters as key group opt for rival clubs, with some even choosing club rugby over pulling on the NSW colours.
Rugby: Former Manly Sea Eagles player and current Wallabies star Tom Wright has furthered the Aussies lead against Wales with a wicked solo try.
A PLAYER mutiny is threatening Rugby Australia’s plan to rebuild the NSW Waratahs, with several Melbourne Rebels stars snubbing the Sydney franchise.
This masthead can reveal that 11 Rebels players have nominated clubs other than NSW to join next season, after RA pulled Melbourne’s license for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
They are: Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Leota, Isaac Kailea, David Feluiai, Pone Fa’amausili, Darby Lancaster, Matt Gibbon, Lachie Anderson, Ethan Dobbins, Lukas Ripley.
11 Rebels players have opted for clubs outside NSW. Picture: William WEST / AFP
Most of them have nominated the Queensland Reds.
Some feel so strongly about rejecting NSW’s approaches, they have vowed to RA through their agents that they will play club rugby if they are stopped from joining their nominated club.
It will be a major concern for RA, given the need for NSW to be competitive.
They have recently appointed head coach Dan McKellar - touted as a future Wallabies coach - and director of rugby Simon Raiwalui to oversee the rebuild after finishing with the wooden spoon this year.
And RA had hoped that a host of Rebels stars would opt to join NSW once the Melbourne franchise was axed.
For a variety of reasons, the majority of players have expressed a lack of interest in the Waratahs. Some players want to move to a city where they are close to family members, others believe they will develop more at rival clubs, and all are concerned by the cost of living pressures in Sydney.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou and Isaac Kailea are included in the group nominating clubs outside NSW. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
RA guaranteed all players contracts when axing the Rebels.
The money they were contracted for in 2025 will be honoured. But for a player on a wage of $150,000, the living costs associated with a move to Sydney far outweigh Canberra, Perth and Brisbane.
RA is aware of the players’ disgruntlement.
“We are still working through that process with the players,” an RA spokesman said.
“The Tahs needed to conclude the recruitment process for their director of performance and head coach. They now have a truly world class team in Simon Raiwalui and Dan McKellar, and they are already heavily involved in the recruitment process with players.”
Dan McKellar has recently been appointed head coach of the NSW Waratahs. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images
But with the Waratahs training in their eastern suburbs hub of Daceyville, rents close to the facility are pricey.
There was also the extended time RA took to appoint McKellar – confirmed last week after Darren Coleman was sacked in May – that led players to consider NSW an unstable club.
This masthead has learned one player has already taken up a lease in Brisbane, despite RA hoping he will join NSW.
There are several who are so adamant they won’t be forced to sign with the Tahs, they will play club rugby in 2025, earn their wages from RA, but miss the chance of representing the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions.
There is a precedent. When the Western Force were axed from Super Rugby in 2017, Robbie Coleman spent the following year playing for Gordon in the Shute Shield, before signing a deal in French rugby.
RA has previously told the players they will not be forced to join any club.
David Feliuai. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images
Former Rebels' captain Rob Leota. Picture: Grant Down / AFP
But the NSW market is crucial for their bottom line. It is the biggest in terms of participation and population, and RA needs a winning Waratahs team to increase match attendances and more importantly television viewership, as they embark on broadcast rights negotiations.
RA took over the operations of the NSW Waratahs earlier this year, and this week announced a similar alignment with the Brumbies, after both clubs faced financial difficulty.
RA is quietly hoping that now the coaching and high performance appointments have been finalised, they can sell their vision for NSW Rugby and convince some of the players to change their minds.
Wallabies outside back Filipo Daugunu and rising second row star Josh Canham have already inked deals with Queensland. Daugunu is signed for 2025 while Canham has a two-year deal until the end of 2026.
Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon and hooker Jordan Uelese have already obtained early releases from RA. Gordon has signed with NRL club Gold Coast Titans while Uelese has joined French club Montpellier.
The Waratahs have also lost Mark Nawaqanitawase. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
But they have lost multiple players to overseas clubs including Test capped Izaia Perese, Ned Hanigan and Lachie Swinton, while winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will join NRL club Sydney Roosters upon his return from the Paris Olympics rugby sevens campaign.
The development comes on the eve of the Wallabies’ first match in Melbourne since the Rebels were shut down. They face Wales at AAMI Park on Saturday night, having won the first match in Sydney last weekend.
Rugby faces player rebellion as Rebels opt out of Waratahs rebuild
Jamie Pandaram
5–7 minutes
The Waratahs’ hopes of landing a host of Melbourne Rebels stars are in tatters as key group opt for rival clubs, with some even choosing club rugby over pulling on the NSW colours.
Rugby: Former Manly Sea Eagles player and current Wallabies star Tom Wright has furthered the Aussies lead against Wales with a wicked solo try.
A PLAYER mutiny is threatening Rugby Australia’s plan to rebuild the NSW Waratahs, with several Melbourne Rebels stars snubbing the Sydney franchise.
This masthead can reveal that 11 Rebels players have nominated clubs other than NSW to join next season, after RA pulled Melbourne’s license for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
They are: Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Leota, Isaac Kailea, David Feluiai, Pone Fa’amausili, Darby Lancaster, Matt Gibbon, Lachie Anderson, Ethan Dobbins, Lukas Ripley.
11 Rebels players have opted for clubs outside NSW. Picture: William WEST / AFP
Most of them have nominated the Queensland Reds.
Some feel so strongly about rejecting NSW’s approaches, they have vowed to RA through their agents that they will play club rugby if they are stopped from joining their nominated club.
It will be a major concern for RA, given the need for NSW to be competitive.
They have recently appointed head coach Dan McKellar - touted as a future Wallabies coach - and director of rugby Simon Raiwalui to oversee the rebuild after finishing with the wooden spoon this year.
And RA had hoped that a host of Rebels stars would opt to join NSW once the Melbourne franchise was axed.
For a variety of reasons, the majority of players have expressed a lack of interest in the Waratahs. Some players want to move to a city where they are close to family members, others believe they will develop more at rival clubs, and all are concerned by the cost of living pressures in Sydney.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou and Isaac Kailea are included in the group nominating clubs outside NSW. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
RA guaranteed all players contracts when axing the Rebels.
The money they were contracted for in 2025 will be honoured. But for a player on a wage of $150,000, the living costs associated with a move to Sydney far outweigh Canberra, Perth and Brisbane.
RA is aware of the players’ disgruntlement.
“We are still working through that process with the players,” an RA spokesman said.
“The Tahs needed to conclude the recruitment process for their director of performance and head coach. They now have a truly world class team in Simon Raiwalui and Dan McKellar, and they are already heavily involved in the recruitment process with players.”
Dan McKellar has recently been appointed head coach of the NSW Waratahs. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images
But with the Waratahs training in their eastern suburbs hub of Daceyville, rents close to the facility are pricey.
There was also the extended time RA took to appoint McKellar – confirmed last week after Darren Coleman was sacked in May – that led players to consider NSW an unstable club.
This masthead has learned one player has already taken up a lease in Brisbane, despite RA hoping he will join NSW.
There are several who are so adamant they won’t be forced to sign with the Tahs, they will play club rugby in 2025, earn their wages from RA, but miss the chance of representing the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions.
There is a precedent. When the Western Force were axed from Super Rugby in 2017, Robbie Coleman spent the following year playing for Gordon in the Shute Shield, before signing a deal in French rugby.
RA has previously told the players they will not be forced to join any club.
David Feliuai. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images
Former Rebels' captain Rob Leota. Picture: Grant Down / AFP
But the NSW market is crucial for their bottom line. It is the biggest in terms of participation and population, and RA needs a winning Waratahs team to increase match attendances and more importantly television viewership, as they embark on broadcast rights negotiations.
RA took over the operations of the NSW Waratahs earlier this year, and this week announced a similar alignment with the Brumbies, after both clubs faced financial difficulty.
RA is quietly hoping that now the coaching and high performance appointments have been finalised, they can sell their vision for NSW Rugby and convince some of the players to change their minds.
Wallabies outside back Filipo Daugunu and rising second row star Josh Canham have already inked deals with Queensland. Daugunu is signed for 2025 while Canham has a two-year deal until the end of 2026.
Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon and hooker Jordan Uelese have already obtained early releases from RA. Gordon has signed with NRL club Gold Coast Titans while Uelese has joined French club Montpellier.
The Waratahs have also lost Mark Nawaqanitawase. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
More Coverage
The Waratahs have two major signings on board for next year; NRL superstar Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i, and Wallabies outside back Andrew Kellaway.But they have lost multiple players to overseas clubs including Test capped Izaia Perese, Ned Hanigan and Lachie Swinton, while winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will join NRL club Sydney Roosters upon his return from the Paris Olympics rugby sevens campaign.
The development comes on the eve of the Wallabies’ first match in Melbourne since the Rebels were shut down. They face Wales at AAMI Park on Saturday night, having won the first match in Sydney last weekend.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
"Agents for 11 players are holding out for more money to play in Sydney" isn't quite as catchy a headline as what they went with is it?
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
True.. As someone who lived in the eastern suburbs of Sydney for a decade and recently made the move back to Brisbane, it’s a no brainer. I liked my time in Sydney but unless you have inter-generational wealth or top 1% of wages, it’s near impossible to get your foot in the door in a house in the Eastern Suburbs where the Waratahs reside these days.
My employer offered the same wage to work in Sydney as they did Brisbane, so it was an easy option in the end.
My employer offered the same wage to work in Sydney as they did Brisbane, so it was an easy option in the end.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Did somebody say Nick CHAMPION de CRESPIGNY
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
there could be - but some cart before the horse signing strategy going on here with the contracted players being locked in first then the other rebels players wit no contract waiting for dominos to fall.
Rebel man
John Thornett (49)
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
The whole scenario sucks. I heard Eloff might be relocating back to Africa (this is after all the years he has put in being super close to Australian wallabies qualification)
why haven’t the Tahs offered this young gentlemen a contract? (Perhaps they have) - I’m generally interested to see who the first non contracted rebels player is that is scooped up by one of the super rugby teams
why haven’t the Tahs offered this young gentlemen a contract? (Perhaps they have) - I’m generally interested to see who the first non contracted rebels player is that is scooped up by one of the super rugby teams
Mr Pilfer
Alex Ross (28)
I think it is fair enough for the Queenslanders like LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) to insist on going to QLD and I am sure they will get the deal done with some of the others once they add a few more $$$ to go to the tahs.
But I hope the force are pushing hard for some signatures as well as I would also think the force winning games might be good for Australian rugby as well??? Again the conflict of interest is just so obvious it is laughable
But I hope the force are pushing hard for some signatures as well as I would also think the force winning games might be good for Australian rugby as well??? Again the conflict of interest is just so obvious it is laughable
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Got a genuine question, if these 11 players say they want to go to Reds (and good on them for saying so), and if the Reds even want them, how many players do Reds have coming out of contract this year? They couldn't surely take on 11 players (a few at reasonable pay I suspect), and still stay under the salary cap could they? Mind you same goes for the Tahs etc.
Especially when a load of these guys are from NSW
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Except, he’s from NSW…
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Salary cap will be flexible.next year, and RA will be sharing the costs of any player who transfers to another team.
From what we know (which could well be wrong) Tahs have room for 5 or 6 players, Reds almost none.
The Reds do have a couple of players with unknown contract status still (eg.Liam Wright), so maybe there's room for a couple.
From what we know (which could well be wrong) Tahs have room for 5 or 6 players, Reds almost none.
The Reds do have a couple of players with unknown contract status still (eg.Liam Wright), so maybe there's room for a couple.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Liverpool and Randwick, that's in Queensland!
Jimmy_Crouch
Peter Johnson (47)
Tahs surely don't want all those players anyway. For a start Dobbins and Ripley aren't super rugby standard. Anderson wouldn't be close to making the team. Lancaster would be a nice to have but they are well serviced with outside backs. Nella and Pone would certainly help (and allow HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) to go back to LH) making Gibbon and Kailea not as important (but again nice to have at least one of them - preference being Kailea). LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and Leota would certainly also fix a hole with Hanigan and Swinton leaving. Feluiai could be useful too.