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Until recently, Rod Macqueen didn’t divulge too much regarding the culture of the Rebels. There might of been minor media snippets here and there revealing what would be known as the four pillars (School, Charity, Business, Club).
However since early this last year, Rod had been preoccupied with establishing an impressive player roster.
Last Saturday, I attended (along with Neville) a lunch held by the Melbourne University Rugby Club, the main attraction for me was Rod Macqueen speaking. Typically I try to attend anything with Rod speaking, on the off chance something new is revealed, and we can share it with the growing number of fans at the Rebel Army and elsewhere. Luckily, with the playing roster almost full, Rod indicated a shift in focus to marketing the Rebels brand.
The most interesting item revealed at the lunch, was what seemed to be the Rebels logo. It resembled a shield in the shape of a V, with five stars in a vertical line with horizontal white lines also. It was also obvious that the Rebels had a similar stream of thought to ours, when developing their logo, basing it on Victoria’s Coat of Arms. Rod went on to describe the logo in depth, with each star to signify the R.E.B.E.L creed (Respect, Excellence, Balance, Ethos, Leadership), and that both would appear on the player’s apparel.
Another interesting fact mentioned, was wanting to create a playing style uniquely Victorian. In various discussions, people have raised their issue with the name “Melbourne Rebels”, opting for the “Victorian Rebels”. I’ve always been of the opinion it will eventually be simply the Rebels, or prefixed with a particular sponsor. These two facts however, give us the insight that Victoria, more then Melbourne, will be at the forefront of the brand and culture.
Strange then though you might think, that we don’t have a single Victorian born or breed player on the roster (at this time of writing). As you’re aware, the Australian born players, will typically hail from New South Wales or Queensland, being the heartlands of Rugby in Australia. Based on the above, we’ll have “expatriates” in what you’d assume are navy blue jerseys with a shield in the shape of a V, representing Victoria (since it is provincial rugby after all). First and foremost, I don’t see an issue with this. If players from other states, choose to make Melbourne/Victoria their home, invest their time and effort into the four pillars of Rod’s culture, our arms are wide open.
Choice should be biggest emphasis here. Since day one, Rod has indicated at recruiting a particular type of player, person more specifically. Someone not just passionate about the Rebels jumper on their back, but the greater Victorian community to which they belong.
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.