Rebels 2017

[KevinO]

The Rebels will host Australian conference rivals Brumbies, Waratahs and Reds, along with New Zealand’s Blues, Chiefs and Crusaders, South Africa’s Lions and the first meeting with Argentina’s Jaguares at AAMI Park.

https://melbournerebels.com/2016/08/11/rebels-freeze-membership-prices-for-2017/

 

[KevinO]

Home games:
Tahs
Brumbies
Reds
Chiefs
Crusaders
Blues
Lions
Jaguares

Away games:
Force
Tahs
Brumbies
Highlanders
Hurricanes
Kings
Sharks

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Harder next season, I reckon. 2 x Tahs and 2 x Brumbies.

 

[KevinO]

Harder next season, I reckon. 2 x Tahs and 2 x Brumbies.

Agree, although the Brumbies could be weak.

Should get first SA win against the Kings though.

 

[GoMelbRebels]

Agree, although the Brumbies could be weak.

Should get first SA win against the Kings though.

I certainly hope so, if we can't win that one it will be a worry (I am still mad at losing to them in 2013!).

 

[Highlander35]

Moore, To'omua, Vaea, Tomane, Wells and Pocock gone. Lilo Potentially out

Still leaves a good squad. Little light of backrowers ATM, but something like:

Toua
Ah Wong
Kuridrani
Godwin*
Speight
Lilo/AN Other
Cubelli

Sio
Abel/Fainga'a
Smith/Makin
Arnold
Enever/Carter
Fardy
AN Other
Butler

Fainga'a/Abel
Allalatoa
Makin/Smith/Alexander
Carter/Enever/Staniforth
Smiler
Powell
Jooste/JJH
Dargaville

Is still a very capable side.

Whereas we're down Thomson, Jones, Harris and Ellison, with only Mafi replacing Thomson being the only like for like swap, despite Koirobete being a good buy too. Add on the fact that we're starting from further back and well, it'll still be a tough tough game.

 

[Highlander35]

Contracted Rebels missing from current NRC lists

Hagan
Weeks
Toby
Chibba
Retallick
Timani
McMahon
McGregor
Inman
Fou
Koroibete

Fou and McGregor are missing through injury, and Marika is obviously playing with the Storm. Any news on the other boys?

 

[Scooter]

Toby, Chibba and McMahon are Wallabies ambassadors for Rising (I assume that means if they aren't playing for Wallabies they can play for Rising).

 

[MarkJ]

Moore, To'omua, Vaea, Tomane, Wells and Pocock gone. Lilo Potentially out

Still leaves a good squad. Little light of backrowers ATM, but something like:

Toua
Ah Wong
Kuridrani
Godwin*
Speight
Lilo/AN Other
Cubelli

Sio
Abel/Fainga'a
Smith/Makin
Arnold
Enever/Carter
Fardy
AN Other
Butler

Fainga'a/Abel
Allalatoa
Makin/Smith/Alexander
Carter/Enever/Staniforth
Smiler
Powell
Jooste/JJH
Dargaville

I'm guessing Mann-Rea will have one of the hooking spots rather than Abel. And Alcock at 7 (or Butler at 7, Smiler at 8 and Alcock on the bench).

 

[Highlander35]

I'm guessing Mann-Rea will have one of the hooking spots rather than Abel. And Alcock at 7 (or Butler at 7, Smiler at 8 and Alcock on the bench).

Without derailing the thread much, I didn't realise Alcock had signed for the Brumbies, who slots in that 7 slot easy, and I would've thought given JMRs and SFs age, you'd look to get Abel in and running around before too long. Just leaves a back up Fly Half then I think.

 

[swingpass]

will Weeks, Inman and Timani play for the third sydney side ?

 

[Brumby Runner]

Without derailing the thread much, I didn't realise Alcock had signed for the Brumbies, who slots in that 7 slot easy, and I would've thought given JMRs and SFs age, you'd look to get Abel in and running around before too long. Just leaves a back up Fly Half then I think.

Way off topic for this thread, but just to clarify a couple of points. Right now, Alcock isn't in the Vikings NRC squad, but has signed for the Brumbies in 2017. The up and coming hooker for the Vikings and perhaps the Brumbies is Conal McInerney, who iirc played Aus U20s two or three years ago. He is in the Vikings' squad, but Saia isn't.

 

[RugbyReg]

The Melbourne Rebels have added Welsh international Dominic Day to the second row for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

The 30-year-old has put pen to paper on a one year deal which will see the lock join the Rebels after a ten-year career in the Pro12 (Europe), England Premiership (England) and Top League (Japan).

Day will join the Rebels at the conclusion of the Top League season in the new year.

 

[swingpass]

on paper another good get. the last welshman did OK

https://melbournerebels.com/2016/08/19/rebels-sign-welsh-international-dominic-day/

 

[Highlander35]

Strange.

Not a bad signing, but with 4 outright locks plus Lopeti on the books already maybe the money and/or international spot could have been spent somewhere else, although where I don't know.

 

[daz]

One year deals really irk me. The bloke will be here just long enough to learn how to do a hook turn in the CBD before he heads back to the UK.

 

[swingpass]

I think they sre hamstrung by the ARU rules. I assume he is a marquee player only allowed 12 month contracts i believe

 

[RugbyReg]

marquees are allowed two year contracts

 

[Highlander35]

Culum Retallick is off playing for BoP, and Weeksy was on European vacation by his tweets.

Just Hagan (opting out as an international?), Timani (Rams?) and Inman (daz's basement?) missing now.

 

[elementfreak]

One year deals really irk me. The bloke will be here just long enough to learn how to do a hook turn in the CBD before he heads back to the UK.

I know people who have been here for 30 years who don't know how to do that...