Rebels 2015

[Tex]

If I was McMahon and given the option of playing 7's in Rio i'd be on it in a flash.

 

[Dene]

Hurricanes fullback Jason Woodward's Super Rugby season over after breaking ankle in club match

Just came across this, it's from a few weeks ago. Bad luck for Jason after a couple of good appearances.

 

[KevinO]

Hurricanes fullback Jason Woodward's Super Rugby season over after breaking ankle in club match

Just came across this, it's from a few weeks ago. Bad luck for Jason after a couple of good appearances.

He only played 3 games

 

[Joe Blow]

Was a great performance by the Rebs on the weekend. Cheka is probably looking at a few of their forwards as potential bolters for his RWC squad.
Toby Smith and PAE were both excellent at the set piece and around the park.
They need a couple of big back rowers for next year though with Higginbotham leaving. They are top heavy with excellent small flankers. Maybe switching one of Jones or Timani to the back row might be on.

 

[Joe Blow]

Is Smith eligible for the Wallabies?

 

[swingpass]

Is Smith eligible for the Wallabies?

yes, australian born and never played international for anyone else

 

[oztimmay]

Apparently a private investor deal is imminent, thanks largely to our recent success on the field. Good news for Victorian and Australian Rugby!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/m...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-UK

 

[Tex]

ARU likely to confirm the Melbourne venue for the 2016 Wallabies v England match to be......*drum roll*......

AAMI Park!

That's a great result for Melbourne. Congratulations to the ARU for finally seeing the forest through the trees!

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...352333521?sv=2a158b69fd1eca1f0f2170d264a7f4aa

 

[elementfreak]

A sold out AAMI Park is much better than a 1/4 full Etihad. Hell less than a 1/2 full AAMI Park gives off a better atmosphere than Etihad.

 

[Dumbledore]

Two very good pieces of news. Amazing what a few wins can do.

 

[oztimmay]

Jordy staying a Rebel until 2017!

http://melbournerebels.com.au/news/article/rebels-lock-reid-in-for-two-more

 

[Tex]

Three very good pieces of news: Jordy Reid re-signs till the end of 2017.

Everything's coming up Milhouse!

 

[Highlander35]

Leaves Samo, Hegarty, Telusa, Kingston, Metcher, Gillespie, Sexton and Whittaker as the only boys without a contract either here, or somewhere else.

With Higgers (Japan), Inagaki(Japan), Burgess (Italy), PAE (France) and Neville (Reds) signed at other clubs.

 

[oztimmay]

Leaves Samo, Hegarty, Telusa, Kingston, Metcher, Gillespie, Sexton and Whittaker as the only boys without a contract either here, or somewhere else.

With Higgers (Japan), Inagaki(Japan), Burgess (Italy), PAE (France) and Neville (Reds) signed at other clubs.

I think Samo won't stick around next year. Priorities for me would be Hegarty, Sexton and either another Lock or backup THP.

 

[daz]

Jordy staying a Rebel until 2017!

http://melbournerebels.com.au/news/article/rebels-lock-reid-in-for-two-more

I must admit I thought Jordy was a 100% chance to leave, which would have been disappointing given he has just started to show what he can do.

Brilliant news that he see's a future with us, and I can see that he is a real chance to regularly claim the starting 7 spot.

 

[Tex]

Thanks Highlander, good citizen journalism.

I've been disappointed with the lack of opportunities for Telusa, particularly given the positive impact he had in the NRC.

 

[RedsHappy]

Rebels about to be sold back into private hands:

http://www.afr.com/business/sport/m...um-led-by-sports-entrepreneur-20150513-gh0kcm

 

[Rock Lobster]

Reid has played very well in the last 2 games but I still reckon Fainga'a is the better option at 7. Both have very high workrates, are excellent defenders & strong over the ball but Fainga'a offers more with ball in hand, especially when he gets a bit wider of the ruck as illustrated last week.

 

[Braveheart81]

Rebels about to be sold back into private hands:

http://www.afr.com/business/sport/m...um-led-by-sports-entrepreneur-20150513-gh0kcm

Presumably any deal will involve annual payments for the licence in a similar way to the Waratahs setup with the Tahs being a separate entity that pays a licence fee to NSWRU.

Hopefully the Rebels scenario involves some fee to the ARU of which some portion is guaranteed to go to Victorian Rugby.

 

[Highlander35]

Would reckon that Metcher, Gillespie and Sexton are only a matter of time. Samo probably retires. We'll likely retain Hegarty, assuming he doesn't get a better offer elsewhere. Whittaker was only injury cover, and I'd reckon we'd retain one of Kingston and Telusa. would give us:

Hookers
Pat Leafa
Siliva Siliva
Tom Sexton

Props
Laurie Weeks
Toby Smith
Cruze Ah-Nau
Jed Gillespie
Tim Metcher

Locks
Luke Jones
Lopeti Timani
Sam Jeffries
Steve Cummins

Back Row
Scott Fuglistaller
Sean McMahon
Colby Fainga'a
Jordy Reid

Halfbacks
Nic Stirzacker
Ben Meehan

Fly Halfs
Jack Debreczeni
Bryce Hegarty

Centers
Tamati Ellison
Mitch Inman
Mike Harris

Wings
Sefanaia Naivalu
Dom Shipperly
Tom English
Telusa Veanui/ Tom Kingston

Full Back
Jonah Placid
Cam Crawford

Giving us a 29 man squad. I reckon we need a 3rd string tighthead, a lock, a big backrower, and a 3rd halfback, which makes 33. Leaving 2 spots for other areas. I'd say another backrower (preferably another big one) and maybe a playmaker or a center.