New Super rugby franchise Melbourne Rebels have announced the signing of three backline players in Sam Cordingley, Tim Davidson and Peter Betham.
Former Queensland Reds halfback Cordingley will return to the country from France where he’s playing for Grenoble and will be well known to Rebel’s coach Rod Macqueen.
The 34-year-old was given his Wallabies debut by Macqueen in 2000 and he said it hadn’t been a hard call to join the Rebels.
“After speaking with Rod Macqueen and Brian Waldron about their ideas for taking the club forward, it became a quick decision to join,” he said.
“Being asked to be one of the founding members of the Melbourne Rebels and to be part of building a culture from scratch is an honour.
“It’s something not many players get the chance to experience.”
Davidson, who has played for the Western Force and NSW Waratahs, will reunite with his coach from Sydney University at the Rebels, Damien Hill being Macqueen’s assistant.
“Tim brings a great deal of professional rugby experience to the Rebels through his stints at the Waratahs, Force and Leeds,” Hill said.
“He’s a high work-rate player who can fill all the back row slots and will be someone who helps us build a strong foundation to the Rebels playing style and culture.”
Betham joins the Rebels from the Waratahs with Hill claiming he is “one of the most dynamic and athletic young backs” in Australian rugby.
Jameswm
Guest
No one here has mentioned yet that this article lists Tim Davidson as a backline player? Also I take issue with Rockin Rod - Ben Hand is certainly not a "really good S 14 player" - he is halfway to useless.
wetyabed
Guest
Wooded great faith shown. 1996 was 15 years prior to next year, the advent of professional rugby and only our third team in S12. The Crusaders were the wooden spooners, Auckland was consistent and smart, the Brumbies only the third of three sides and the warratahs were packed with stars but never fulfilled there playing list (ok no change there). Look at the players they had in the side, do you honestly think Melbourne has Gregan, Larkham and the other canberra stars of '96 running around. By my reckoning all the quality has been signed bar 5 or 6 and Cooper isn't going to Melbourne. They haven't even signed a high profile Melbourne boy yet? No Ioane, No Lealiifano, No Elsom, No Gill or Gray (both 7's) No Ulugia, nothing! So where now Sydney club rugby the top team is Uni, but all the best are already signed. So the best players from the other sides? Any that are well on the radar are signed, maybe in his ten years out of the game McQueen who was an exceptional coach 10 years ago has been scouring the countryside for the new breed and is ready to do it all again, I hope so but I must say the faith is wavering.
Wooded
Guest
i think you have it wrong rock! The rebels are building a team of "good blokes". They are building a culture, a team ethos that will win them titles. When the brumbies started, I am sure (if the internet had been invented ha ha) there would have been similar comments about the selections. See... buying the best players does not nessasarilay when you championships (barcelona). The culture the belief in you team mates, the belief in your club will be the key. Yes you need some class. but the rebels will unearth the talent of the future, by using the expirience of the cordinglys and Mortlocks to develop the Bethams and whatever other young talent they bring to the club.
Rockin Rod
Guest
Wow, this is getting really emabarrissing. Not 1 of these signings would make the 22 in Qld,Nsw or Brumbies, Betham may make the Force side but thats about it. Davo is back working on his farm and Rat is 34 and playing in France. Betham was unwanted by the Brumbies. Melbourne got their whole recruiting wrong. Instead of wasting weeks on trying to sign Pocock,Barnes and Robinson they should have gone after numbers 10-20 squad memebers and told them they were going to be marquee signings. Really good S14 players that arent wallabies, The Ben Hands, Hangas, Dennis,Higgingbottom, They went after these guys too late after all the wallabies said know and it has left them with nothing. Maybe they have signed Cooper,Hynes and Elsom because they dont seem to be panicking. Of course if those players just mentioned would be wanting to keep that all very hush hush as the Qld boys would be chased out of the state. Rocky will always go where the money is