The Melbourne Rising presented themselves to the Victorian community rugby on Wednesday night.
The event was hosted in the premises of Harlequins Rugby Club, where the NRC team will train all the season long and the first 6 weeks of pre-training has been held so far.
Victorian Rugby Union director and Melbourne Rebels GM of Community Rugby Peter Leahy, was the first to address the public made up from VRU clubs officials, Victorian Rugby Referee Association members and Melbourne Rising team members. As often happens in the NRC teams presentation, Leahy praised the founding of the new national competition which “creates a clear pathway for young players from School Rugby up to the Wallabies”. He was proud to mention that “Victorian rugby in the last 12 years has produced 23 national level players, in contrast with the seven in the twenty years before”.
Melbourne Rebels’ Rugby Operation Manager Baden Stephenson, who was involved in the first attempt to build a national competition in 2012 in Sydney, focused his speech on the community and clubs involvement. He pointed out that: “the Rising are pursuing a family oriented pricing, kids under 12 will be allowed for free at AAMI Park”, Stephenson also added that: “the games will be played in very family friendly times” and he was also very complimentary of the support of all Dewar Shield clubs and especially of Harlequins’ the host of the night.
MC Pete Fairbairn then had a Q&A session with Head Coach Sean Hedger and with Prop Cruze Ah Nau. The coach was very pleased with the spirit of all players involved: “they all showed a big deal of enthusiasm, from the initial 40 Dewar Shield selected as Rising prospects we choose 16 of them to be part of the team, during 6 weeks of training and skills assessment”. Hedger has opted for a mix of experience and youth in his group: ” youth and enthusiasm are not the only keys to success.”
The coach praised also the ease of the club and Rebels’ players to mix and form a group already close.
Questioned about the style of play he will give to his team, without going into details Hedger mentioned that: “the block of Rebels’ players will facilitate the use of pre-existing schemes” – he added that – “the new rules are intended to provide less stoppages and more speed to the game, this will suit our style of game”.
Cruze Ah Nau, who plays with Footscray when not on Rebel’s duty, added: “I’m glad to have several team mates around me” and “I’m looking forward to the new competition”.
Full 2014 Melbourne Rising squad:
- Scott Higginbotham (Back rower, Harlequin/Melbourne Rebels)* Allocated Wallaby
- Luke Jones (Lock, Moorabbin/Melbourne Rebels)* Allocated Wallaby
- Cruze Ah-Nau (Prop, Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
- Paul Alo-Emile (Prop, Power House/Melbourne Rebels)
- Frank Amituanai (Lock, Footscray)
- Greg Bauer (Hooker, Box Hill)
- Jack Debreczeni (Flyhalf, Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
- Tom English (Wing, Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
- Angus Hamilton (Lock, Harlequin)
- Shane Imo (Flyhalf, Footscray)
- Mitch Inman (Centre, Southern Districts/Melbourne Rebels)
- Sam Jeffries (Lock, Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
- Lloyd Johansson (Centre, Harlequin)
- Joe Kamana (Wing, Moorabbin)
- Rennie Lautolo-Molimau (Fullback, Endeavour Hills)
- Pat Leafa (Hooker, Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels)
- Sean McMahon (Back rower, Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
- Sefanaia Naivalu (Centre, Box Hill)
- Martin Naufahu (Flyhalf, Foostcray/Melbourne Rebels)
- Cadeyrn Neville (Lock, Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
- OJ Noa (Back rower, Harlequin)
- Junior Paila (Scrumhalf, Endeavour Hills)
- Reuben Rolleston (Back rower, Endeavour Hills)
- Fereti Sa’aga (Prop, Melbourne Uni)
- Tom Sexton (Hooker, Power House/Melbourne Rebels)
- Pom Simona (Back rower, Harlequin)
- Finbar Simpson (Prop, Melbourne)
- Toby Smith (Prop, Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
- Nic Stirzaker (Scrumhalf, Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
- Sione Taufa (Back rower, Harlequin/Melbourne Rebels)
- Lopeti Timani (Back rower, Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
- Tui Tuiatua (Prop, Moorabbin)
- Telusa Veainu (Wing, Melbourne/Melbourne Rebels)
