Melbourne Rebels 2024
- Thread starter RugbyReg
- Start date
stoff
Bill McLean (32)
Sports minister raised World Cup final in phone call to rugby boss
Rugby officials have been warned the Victorian government expects an elite rugby union team to play in the state, with the future of the Melbourne Rebels to be decided on Friday as ministers weigh up a bid to stage the 2027 Rugby World Cup final.
I love how full of it the RA spin people are.
Sports minister raised World Cup final in phone call to rugby boss
Rugby officials have been warned the Victorian government expects an elite rugby union team to play in the state, with the future of the Melbourne Rebels to be decided on Friday as ministers weigh up a bid to stage the 2027 Rugby World Cup final.www.theage.com.au
I love how full of it the RA spin people are.
Breathtaking confidence gotta give 'em that.
So VicGov is playing a timely hand. World Rugby will no doubt watch more closely.
And they've seen the proposal from the consortium. So, no more excuses there.
I saw a snip on codeSports quoting the RA CFO, saying, "Five teams can work, but it will be financially tight" (paraphrased).
I think RA softening the ground here to eat some humble pie and accept the offer.
Hey we all want an elite rugby union team based in Melbourne. Unfortunately we’ve only had the Rebels there.
I thought it was Reds A?
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
So long as there's no more dribble about the Brumbies relocating.
SouthernX
Jim Lenehan (48)
honestly if the rebels fold… a 2nd qld team makes way more sense than a 2nd NSW team.
Queensland is this country’s rugby heartland
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
Or sharing between the 2 cities, we don't have enough games as it is.
Save the Rebels and increase the season to home and away. Time to stop with this crap about calendar space, URC, Premiership and Top 14 all play through the 6 Nations.
Wilson
Michael Lynagh (62)
Fair enough for the Victorian government to come in with the stick, but they'll need to offer a carrot as the alternative if they want to get anywhere with it. It doesn't matter too much what RA might miss out on without the Rebels if they're not viable as an ongoing concern - if that can't be shown then there's no path forward that involves keeping them going.
Crashy
Arch Winning (36)
Yep, I am absolutely crystal clear that we produce and have the talent for 5 teams. What we dont have is the $ to keep them away for overseas and Jail Rugby. No doubt in my mind at all.
Think I read somewhere that we have 100 professional (varying degrees) playing rugby around the world - if you split that into Japan, France, England, Italy etc etc you can see how its possible. There lies the challenge. Not sure how we get the mungos to fuck-off but perhaps the Lions tour plus 2 x world cups in Australia this decade may help in some way.
Anyway - a tough nut to crack.
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
I think the Vic government offer for the final goes away, then NSW will give a low ball offer for the final that RA can't refuse. Between that offer and 20 000 less tickets for the final. It would hurt the bottom line a lot.
Strewthcobber
Andrew Slack (58)
I can't help but think RA would be a lot more keen on the "consortium" if the spokesperson wasn't one of the former directors, and her father leading.
As an aside, they got a pretty favourable editorial in the Age yesterday as well.
As an aside, they got a pretty favourable editorial in the Age yesterday as well.
More timely good press for keeping the Rebels. I've observed they've stuck to the fact of the issue, as opposed to a lot of opinion, especially on cutting the Rebels. Nor have I heard anyone on Stan advocating for cutting the Rebels. I can't see Stan would be happy with one less team, especially in a city of 7 million potential customers.
Wilson
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yeah, but that's all just the stick still. Even then it's a one off hit to the bottom line versus the ongoing drain of keeping the Rebels in business for a few years before they collapse again because the model isn't viable, likely leaving RA in a worse place. There's also the reality that the Vic government hasn't been bidding for these events out of the goodness of their heart or to support the Rebels (because it really doesn't help them that much), they've been bidding because it pulls visitors and tourism dollars into the state. From RA/World rugby's perspective they have to ask if the Rebels collapsing really changes that or are they just trying to play hardball/politics here?
If they really want to shift the conversation rather than just be "seen to be doing" they need to come in with some positive incentives to keep the Rebels going as well - financial backing for the side, concrete infrastructure commitments, etc.
Strewthcobber
Andrew Slack (58)
Not sure about that - if you are talking about the Age. The editorial is pretty much all opinion (as it should be - that's what an editorial is)
Not sure this is exactly "neutral language' given the existing positions held by some in the consortium, and the personal liabilities they currently face.
And they seem to be neglecting the "extended legal battle" that would occur if the creditors vote for the proposal as well.
Slim 293
Stirling Mortlock (74)
The father who was also one of the former directors of BRC...
It all sounds a bit... suss.
SouthernX
Jim Lenehan (48)
Steven holies for last few years has been championing retraction.
has never mentioned rebels by name but I have heard him make the case for cutting a team or 2
KevinO
Geoff Shaw (53)
He has since his fox days, but this year has not mentioned it. Stan team has probably been told your employer does not want to cut teams, they pay your wage so don't mention it.
I do wonder if RA received two offers the other day, one with four and one with five teams.