Melbourne Rebels
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| Melbourne Rebels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Union | Australian Rugby Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Melbourne, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Olympic Park Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 18,500[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Bill Millard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain | TBA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Australian Rugby Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | n/a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Union website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.vicrugby.com.au | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Melbourne Rebels are an Australian rugby union club that plays in the Australian Rugby Championship. The Rebels were formed as the only Victorian club that will participate in the inaugural season of the championship, starting in August of 2007. The team are based out of the Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne. The team colors are white and blue. The Melbourne Rebels are the only ARC club that are not directly linked to a Super 14 franchise as Victoria does not have one.
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[edit] History
Prior to Melbourne being allocated a position in the foundation season of the Australia Rugby Championship, Victoria had in the past bid to get a Super 12/14 license. In 2006 the Super 12 expanded to 14 teams with one license going to a Australian and South African team respectively. Victoria and Western Australia were the bidders for the license, and it eventually went to Western Australia, creating the Western Force.
The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship, starting in August of 2007, includes eight teams, one of which would be based in Melboune, Victoria. It was rumored that the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) gave up a fourth club to enable Victoria to participate in the new national competition.[2] It was subsequently revealed that thet club would be playing out of Olympic Park Stadium in Melbourne.
In December of 2006, prior to club colours and name being known, the Victorian Rugby Union (VRU) announced that former Australian Sevens and Sydney University coach Bill Millard and former Wallaby Fletcher Dyson as the head coach and coach consultant respectively.[3] Former Rugby World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen is also thought to have some involvement with the club.[3]
In late March the club's official launch took place, unveiling the specifics of the new team including their name; the Melbourne Rebels.[4] The launch took place at Crown’s Palladium, and the team's first signings were revealed.[4] The Rebels' first league game will be against the Canberra team in round one, with the first home game taking place in round 2 against the East Coast Aces.
[edit] Colours and logo
The Rebels' colours and logo were unveiled at the official launch of the club on 29 March 2007.[4] As well as the colours and logo, the team jersey were revealed, which is manufactured by Canterbury of New Zealand. The Rebels' jeresy is consists of a traditional hoop design, with the club colours of blue and white.[5] The Rebels' logo is a blue crest with an M with stars around it, with Rebels written in red.
The Rebels name was chosen in consultation with the local rugby community.[5] VRU)officials decided on the Rebels name in reference to Victoria's first Wallaby, Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop. Buddha at the launch, said that “like the great Weary Dunlop, Victorian rugby has a history of daring to be different, a touch of the larrikin, and always having a go. These qualities are what you want in a Rebel and characterize the way Victoria is successfully tackling this historic year”.[4]
[edit] Stadium
The Melbourne Rebels will play their home games for the 2007 ARC season at the Olympic Park Stadium located in inner Melbourne. Olympic Park, which has a capacity of around 18,500 was built in 1956. It has also in the past been home to rugby league and football (soccer) matches. The Melbourne Rebels play their first home match at Olympic Park in round 2 when they host the East Coast Aces.
Victoria has in the past been host to numerous Wallaby Test matches, and is one of Australia's main regular test cities. However, Wallaby games are usually played at Telstra Dome or the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The 1997 Bledisloe Cup was played at the MCG, and after ten years, will return to the venue in 2007. Melbourne has also in the past been host to pre-season Super 14 matches.[6]
[edit] Franchise area
The Melbourne Rebels are allowed to sign a number of players from the four Australian Super 14 franchises. This includes three players from Brumbies and Western Force, and one each from both the New South Wales Waratahs and Queensland Reds.[5]
[edit] Current squad
- Squad yet to be announced.
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[edit] Records
| ARC seasons | |||||||||||
| Year | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | PF | PA | Diff | Points | Place | Playoffs | |
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| 2007 | |||||||||||
[edit] Head coaches
Bill Millard (2007 -)
[edit] Captains
- To be announced (2007 -)
[edit] See also
- Victorian Rugby Union (VRU)
[edit] References
- ^ Olympic Park Stadium. austadiums.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ New national rugby comp for 2007. news.com.au. Retrieved on 2006-06-03.
- ^ a b Victorian Rugby appoints Millard and Dyson to key coaching positions. rugby.com.au (2007-12-11). Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ a b c d Melbourne Rebels on the rugby march. rugby.com.au (2007-03-29). Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ a b c Dave Donaghy (2007-03-29). Rebels show true colours. Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2007-03-29.
- ^ "Mauger slams Melbourne move", keo.co.za, 2006-02-21. Retrieved on 2006-10-15.
[edit] External links
- Melbourne Rebels
- Victorian Rugby Union
- Australian Rugby Championship on rugby.com.au
