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Signing carnage. T minus 3 weeks.

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RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
The Melbourne Rebels' recruitment campaign will move up a notch after the Australian Rugby Union relaxed its stance on the new Super 15 franchise's player transfer deadline.

The Rebels, who last week announced their first and only signing in former England five-eighth Danny Cipriani, successfully argued to the ARU board that the restriction on signing Australian-based players was unfair.

The ARU, eager to avoid another Western Force poaching frenzy, had set a May 31 deadline but on Monday announced that deadline for all provinces would be brought forward to March 15.

It has also provided the start-up franchise with the additional concession of an extension for reaching its working capital requirement, which is part of its licence agreement.

That will ease pressure on the privately owned Rebels, who are reportedly seeking an additional $6m in private equity.

Investors have been waiting to see what kind of team the Rebels recruit before they commit to the franchise.

"The sooner we get moving in announcing key signings of Australian players, the sooner we can put together a financial proposition to build the brand of the Rebels so it was imperative that that changed to assist us," Rebels chief executive Brian Waldron of the date change.

"In essence this gives us 11 months to put together a team to run on the park and also to get the necessary funds together from a commercial and sponsorship point of view.

"I came out of last week's meeting with John O'Neill absolutely confident that the ARU was supportive of what we were trying to do and this confirms my belief.

"They want us to be successful, they want to help us be successful and at the same time ensure the existing provinces are protected where possible."

ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill said players announcing midway through a season they would be switching to another team the following season was still a concern.

"However, weighing up the interests of the four existing Super Rugby provinces that wanted a level of protection around player retention, and the interests of the Rebels who want to fill their playing roster for 2011, we have come to the conclusion that the March 15 date is the best balance for all parties," he said in a statement.

"It was never going to be an exact science and after assessing the current situation, this is the best way forward."

The Rebels' wish-list includes five Wallabies - ACT Brumbies centre and former Australian skipper Stirling Mortlock, NSW five-eighth Berrick Barnes, Western Force flanker David Pocock and NSW prop Benn Robinson.

The Rebels are waiting to hear back from former league Test star Mark Gasnier, who is playing rugby in France, after the ARU tabled him a formal offer.
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Get your arse in gear QRU
 
C

chief

Guest
I beg you Rod Maqueen, to lay your hands off Hynes, and Cooper. Please QLD Rugby is down as it is already, please. I also beg you Peter Hynes to stay with QLD, we will make it worth your while, please.
 
RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
take Lucas, sure, or Kingi maybe. Not both mind you!

Happy to throw in Rob Simmons too.

Danya Edwards? Sure.

Brando Vaalu, Tasi Luafuti, Andrew Shaw? They're yours.

But that's it! ok?

Oh ok. You can have Jack Kennedy as well.

How's that for generosity.
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
And from what Noddy mentioned, perhaps add Toua too, and I guess one of Morahan or Davies - perferably Davies. Don't say Queenslanders aren't generous. Tim Walsh? Fair enough. You're twisting my arm, though.

But yeah, please don't touch any other of the current matchday 22 :'( Sorry, but that's final. I hear there's a few interesting Queenslanders at the Force, though...
 
R

rugbywhisperer

Guest
tranquility said:
We do not want to lose Davies, Morahan or Toua mate.
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agree - it will send a very bad message to the young kiddies coming throughalso Mozz will be a great benefit to the Reds in years to come. I also see Davies supplanting the mighty Hynes.
Yes, if any take Hynes.
 
RugbyReg

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
no. Not Hynes. Take Morgan.

He'd be excellent for the new team. I expect Chambers to be 13 by the end of season anyway.

Morgan is Crash Davis to the rest of the backline's Nuke Laloosh.

And if anyone get's that movie reference you're ok in my books!
 
disco

disco

Chilla Wilson (44)
I guess one of Morahan or Davies - perferably Davies.
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No way we need Davies & Morahan to stay Red for life.

Blair Conner yes & we'll also keep keep Lucas & Kingi they Rebels can have McKibbon as he's one of ours anyway.

Qld Sunday mail report have said that the Rebels have approached MMM who has a get out clause in his Japanese contract.

Would love to see MMM back in OZ for 2011 even if it is with the Rebels.
 
Ash

Ash

Michael Lynagh (62)
tranquility said:
We do not want to lose Davies, Morahan or Toua mate.
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I would gladly lose one of Davies and Morahan plus Toua if we kept Hynes and one of Davies/Morahan. We may have been joking around, but a substantial number of the Rebels will be squad players from the other provincials and the Reds will lose players.

Hynes is invaluable to the Reds now, a very good club man who's consistant and has heaps of experience, including being a current Wallaby. Plus he's their only proven S14 level fullback at this stage. Toua has some potential, but Hynes is playing 15 now and making a great fist of it. Last thing the Reds need is to be developing more young kids with huge potential as they bleed experience, and especially in a key position like fullback where top level experience is so often important. And I can't see Davies being as good a fullback as Hynes is right now. At this stage, with his size and speed, I really think that Davies will make a better winger who doubles as a second fullback (if you subscribe to the school of thought where one of your wingers is a second fullback).

Best case scenario is the Reds keep very close to their current match day 22. Honestly, if the Reds keep Hynes, Morahan, one of Kingi or Lucas, their current pack, and Cooper I will be happy, even if they lose Toua, Morgs, Lucas/Kingi, Connor, etc. The depth of the Reds backs is such that you can't not expect them to lose a few to the Rebels.

And speaking seriously, Morgs would be a great pickup for the Rebels and they should chase him.

Would love to see Chambers appear at 13, but we realy need Turinuri's experience there, plus he's playing rather well.
 
C

CanadianRugby

Guest
Newb said:
Noddy said:
Morgan is Crash Davis to the rest of the backline's Nuke Laloosh.
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who's susan sarandon in this?
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Link? Same cup size.....

As a soon-to-be Rebels fan, I have must admit I kinda hope they don't pillage the Reds too much. As the one team anyone is currently excited about in Australia it would be pretty horrible to see them gutted the next year. In a dream world the Rebels sign cast offs and turn them into a competitive team, revealing new and exciting talent for the Wallabies to use.....I swear I've heard that happened somewhere before....

And I hope they don't sign Cooper. because 1) I am not a Cooper fan (though his is playing brilliantly at the moment) and 2) the thought of having Cipriani and Cooper on the same team would be enough to make and Coach and PR person cry....
 
Langthorne

Langthorne

Phil Hardcastle (33)
If the Tahs keep up their current form I don't think there will be much interest from the Rebels, assuming they want to win anything.
 
Scotty

Scotty

David Codey (61)
As a soon-to-be Rebels fan, I have must admit I kinda hope they don't pillage the Reds too much. As the one team anyone is currently excited about in Australia it would be pretty horrible to see them gutted the next year. In a dream world the Rebels sign cast offs and turn them into a competitive team, revealing new and exciting talent for the Wallabies to use.....I swear I've heard that happened somewhere before....
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In my dream world they would approach a lot of the best Aussie players that are plying their trade overseas at the moment and get them back here. The likes of Rodney Blake and MMM. I hope they also get Gasnier.

In fact if the old mans body could hold up for another season it wouldn't be a bad idea to try and get Latho on a one year deal, even if just for publicity and experience reasons.
 
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