The Melbourne Rebels have shored up their scrum stocks by locking in hooker Pat Leafa and prop Tim Metcher on new Super Rugby deals.
Leafa hasn’t missed a game in the past two Super Rugby seasons, while tight-head Metcher has shone after joining the up-and-coming Melbourne franchise this year.
New Zealand-born Leafa has extended his deal until the end of 2017 while Metcher has committed for next season.
Leafa, 26, had become a Rebels mainstay since making his Super Rugby debut late in 2013 and said he was delighted to secure his future.
“It shows that they believe in me and my re-signing shows that I believe in the club,” Leafa said.
Leafa will have extra competition in 2016 with Queensland’s James Hanson and Siliva Siliva from the Brumbies joining the Rebels.
Coach Tony McGahan said Leafa had proven himself to his teammates on and off the field.
“Pat’s performances this year – in regards to his defensive work, scrummaging and his desire to take the ball into traffic – were first class,” McGahan said.
“We are delighted he sees his future here in Melbourne.”
The pair’s signings take the Rebels’ confirmed squad to 26 players for next season, with 16 of them also re-signed until the end of 2017.
Former NSW Waratah Tom Kingston, Jed Gillespie, Tom Sexton, Telusa Veainu and Ben Whittaker are leaving Melbourne as well as utility back Bryce Hegarty, who will play in Japan.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
At the midway point of the season, aside from the Western Force, the Australian Super Rugby Pacific teams have had a relatively successful campaign.…
So many Australian rugby fans look back on 2023 as a complete disaster for the game down under, with million-dollar blowouts, an Eddie experiment…
After three losses, the Crusaders are not the powerhouse of previous seasons, while Rugby Australia is set for a new Chief Operations Officer to overcome financial issues.
While fans may have anticipated an exciting game based on some big-name signings, the Rebels failed to create a cohesive unit for effective rugby.
Prior to Christmas, there were several articles discussing the precarious position of several entities linked to Melbourne Rebels chair Paul Docherty and the Rebels’…
The benefits of a rugby centralisation model will be streamlined development, a united front, and becoming a rugby powerhouse on the global stage.
