2011 will mark a significant year in the history of the Victorian sporting landscape. It will field a team in the world’s most prestigious rugby competition, Super Rugby.
A Super Rugby title is the only remaining trophy yet to be won by a Victorian side.
The Geelong Cats, Melbourne Victory, Victorian Bushrangers are just some of the teams (at this point in time), which are the current premiers of their domestic sporting competition.
These are the hopes and aspirations of a sports mad Victorian.
A true Victorian. I was brought up on Australian Football (Richmond), soggy meat pies and afternoons at the MCG. I’m in a generation which has grown up with advancements in technology such as Pay-TV and the Internet.
These have helped us gain exposure to a wide and interesting world, which obviously included sport. I remember a time when the sporting landscape in Australia (in particular Victoria), only included Australian Football and Cricket.
Since 1998, with the introduction of a NRL team (Melbourne Storm) and the reinvention of Association Football through the A-League, many Victorians (Australians too) have a growing sporting interest, outside of traditional sports in their state.
This is where I found rugby.
I can remember watching a few matches in my early teens as well as league during the Super League war. During my mid-teens I fell out of love with sport for various reasons.
However, towards my late teens and early twenties, I found my passion again.
Before recommitting myself to a struggling Richmond, I was supporting the Wallabies in the build up to the 2007 World Cup in France. Subsequently, I discovered Super 14 in 2008.
Due to the lack of a Victorian team, I decided to align myself with our northern neighbour, the NSW Waratahs. I even purchased a relatively cheap non-match day membership.
It was only until late 2008 that I discovered Victoria’s attempt to gain a team in Super Rugby. I learned of the failed 2004 bid, which went to the Western Force. As well as news that SANZAR was looking to add another team to the prestigious competition.
I thought the time was right to build support for a team in one of my favourite sports. I employed tools that were popular and appealed to the masses through Facebook and Twitter.
I only gathered minimal support.
However, it wasn’t long before I found similar people who had already established more successful groups. As they say, two-heads are better than one.
Teaming up, we eventually found ourselves with 2,000 plus supporters. Out of this, we’ve evolved into a group known as the Rebel Army.
For those on the outside looking in, you may ask: “Why don’t I have this similar level of commitment to my AFL club?” The answer is simple, it’s a matter of history.
Richmond is over 100 years old, it’s supporter culture and groups are well established. On the other hand, the Rebels provide a fresh start something to be part of, to form the foundation of. A situation which isn’t dissimilar to that of the 11th A-League franchise Melbourne Heart.
The Rebels will also provide a niche in the Victorian sporting landscape, one which is slowly disappearing, state representation. At present there is only one team, in all of the major domestic sporting competitions which represent Victoria, the Bushrangers.
However, post-2011, this is expected to change with the Big Bash changing to a city/franchise structure. Victorian’s love their sport, and especially love their state representative sides, if the recent Big Bash series is anything to go by.
I could be grasping at straws using cricket (which is a well established sport in this country) as a measure for supporting a domestic rugby team, but I don’t think this is too far off the mark.
I’m sure every Victorian awaits the day, the mighty Victorian Rebels take on the NSW Waratahs at the new Rectangular Stadium.
Damo
Guest
Don't worry, Cameron. Macca likes designing logos. He did a good one for the Brumbies.
Nick
Guest
Ahhhh macavity do you measure peoples intellect on spelling?? ill take that gold star considering i dont speak english at home. how many languages can you speak, changing the topic maybe this just shows you how important rugby is to people outside of aus, if you want to turn this into a rugby vs league debate thats fine just shows how small, insignificant and how insecure your sport really is. so yea ill take that gold star with pleasure from you, a hard working class man pffffft love it how you aussies try milk that term.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Yeah it pays the bills and is a necessary evil, but that doesn't make it prestigious. The first thing I would do is change the commentating. I get feeds from all three countries and Super Sport are lightyears ahead of Fox and Sky Sports when it comes to the pre-match warm-up in the studio and the actual commentating of the game. If you listen to the New Zealand and Australian commentators, they're just as cynical about the game as other media commentators. I don't see how that helps the Super 14's image at all. It may win points with disgruntled rugby fans but it's not the way they do things in South Africa and guess who has the best crowds.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
more a republican myself macavity
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Who said I don't like Rugby? I just prefer League out of the two, though Union is my second favourite. If you hadn't noticed, this article is about Australian Rugby, not South African or any other countries Rugby. So the comment is false in that regard when applied to Australian Rugby, which is nothing of the sort. To typify what Union represents, if I want to talk about Union with anyone else at work, the only guys who are interested are other guys who went to private schools which played Union. Pretty much says it all really.
Cameron of Melbourne
Guest
Oh and I hope Rebels change the bloody logo. I hate that old Melbourne Rebels ARC logo. It looks like an American baseball team. Seriously I could design a better logo. They should just use the Eureka flag and have the words 'Rebels Rugby' keep it nice and simple. Not this american looking crap.
Redb
Roar Guru
no probs Kronic, only having a joke at your expense. :-) Richmond supporters have had it tough for many many years, the diehards who stick wtih their club through thick and thin should be applauded.
Cameron of Melbourne
Guest
Hi Kronic, Good article mate. As another fellow keen rugby supporter in Melbourne I have been waiting for a super rugby team for years and I was so happy when Melbourne finally got the team. I have no doubt Rebels will get good crowds. Just from my personal experience there's good support for rugby here. The people who are involved in rugby are passionate about teh game. You just have to look at the numbers they get to Weary Dunlop rugby lunches. I know quite a few rugby players and one that played for Victorian schools. 2 of my mates are keen on getting Rebels memberships (one is an Irishman). I think we'll get a lot of expats going to the games. Hopefully we can get a few neutrals and get some of the AFL and soccer fans to go to the games as well. I am really excited about Rebels and Australian rugby next year.
kronic
Guest
Maybe you didn't read between the lines, when I stated 'we've evolved'. Don't worry we'll make our presence felt. Just on the stadium issue, I'd be more worried about retaining crowd numbers. You'll get people that come along to each of the games, some to experience the new stadium and perhaps revisit these 'foreign' sports (not that I regard sports with 100+ years history in this country as foreign to a particular non-traditional locality).
Justin
Guest
Westy - How much do the other AUS S14 franchises get per year from the ARU? Its more than $3mil isnt it? Not really sure what you mean by Melbourne "getting all the dough". With the loan a once off, Melbourne has to find an extra $1mil plus per year if my maths are correct. Hardly a great windfall.
kronic
Guest
Sorry mate, I said Richmond not Collingwood. Some of us jump on the bandwagon, others stick through the pain to get the pleasure. Now that you mention it, I will be supporting Melbourne Heart though, a fresh start. I also like the fact Van't Schip calls 'a spade, a spade'.
kronic
Guest
Agreed. This occurs with many supporters, however I can't decide whether Carlton or Collingwood takes the medal in that one?
macavity
Roar Pro
gangstrism? I believe you just coined a new word, old nicky boy. Gold star for you.
macavity
Roar Pro
In 1988 there were already the Illawarra Steelers in the league, otherwise we may well have been the Steelers. Fun fact - the original Newcastle settlement was named Kings Town. I can imagine your establishment excitement about that.....
MattRusty
Roar Pro
Fair call Bay35P, will put the grapes away...not paranoid about the Rebels joining the Melbourne community in 2011, more paranoid about us filling the new stadium this year; if that doesn't happen... And good luck to you kronic, you have lots of passion but perhaps your energy would be better spent starting a real cheer squad, one that creates banners like the Graveyard mob for the Storm. Banners are a part of Melbourne culture, so keep it going; or you could take the easy option and just create a Facebook group and sit behind your keyboard feeling invincible. Which do you choose soldier?
Banter
Guest
I hope the Rebels have the impact on Australian rugby that the Brumbies have had, although some say positively, some say negatively. Certainly, they changed some attitudes to how rugby can be played. Macqueen started it, Jones refined it, Nucifora held onto it before the game started to move faster than the Brumbies could evolve their game. Interestingly, a look over the Aus S14 2010 teams- Reds - Head Coach Mckenzie (ex Brum player/captain/coach), Head S&C,Damian Marsh (ex Brumbies S&C for the last 9 years). Waratahs -Head Coach Hickey (ex Canberra club coach for many years, ex Brumbies Assistant Coach). Rebels -Head Coach Macqueen (Brumbies innaugural Head Coach), Assistant Coach Damian Hill (ex Canberra premiership player, Brumbies Development Manager for years). Brumbies - Head Coach Andy Friend (ex Canberra rep player), Assistant Coach Owen Finegan (ex Brumbies foundation player). It seems the Brumbies tentacles still have some reach.....
Jannerboyuk
Guest
Really? Bloody mungoes and bogans get everywhere.
Nick
Guest
I can rugby is played outside of australia and im sure you will find that the poorest of the poor play this great game. majority of people that play rugby in SA are from the working class i would go far to say that they are poorer than most people living in australia now. rugby has saved the lives of many kids who would have lost their lives to gangstrism and drugs, ashwin willimse is a great example, ended up playing for the springboks. just beacuse rugby is the sport of the elite in oz does not make it eveywhere else dogs. and what are you doing on this thread if you dont even like rugby?
bever fever
Guest
Be careful .. Tiger supporters eat their own.
sheek
Guest
Westy, I had a conversation with Bay that with the Rebels adopting Melbourne as their place name over Victoria, & Brumbies preferring (apparently) Canberra to ACT, there is a definite shift away from provincial based franchises to club franchises (in Australia). The inference being the Waratahs may become Sydney, the Reds may become Brisbane, & the Force may become Perth, & also making it easier in the future for teams from Western Sydney & Gold Coast to participate in any national comp. No more state & territory boundaries, just major cities & regions. With respect to NSW rugby, you are obviously in "the know". I have agreed in the past with you that the neglect of Western Sydney is reprehensible & may be rugby's undoing in the state. They (NSWRU/ARU) will only have themselves to blame.