Since 12 November 2009, Rod Maqueen, along with the rest of the Melbourne Rebels leadership and management team, has put a lot of emphasis on what the Rebels stand for, on and off the field – Respect, Excellence, Balance, Ethos and Leadership.
During the recruitment drive, every media partner and journalist willing to lend an ear would have received lip-service to that extent. “We aren’t looking for players who will only perform two hours a week on the field, we’re looking for players who will perform seven days a week, not just in rugby, but in life”
Was it all just lip-service? A strategy in effort to create its own market in an AFL saturated state?
Will the Rebels just become another franchise, in Super Rugby, or will they achieve something much bigger than just scoring points on a ladder?
It’s with a pleasure that I can proudly announce that, true to their words, they have indeed taken responsibility, and shown initiative in effort to assist rugby union grow in Victoria like it’s never grown before!
The changes started earlier in 2010 when Ross Oakley was appointed across VRU and the Melbourne Rebels franchise. This a strong indication that they intend to work closely with the VRU clubs in and around Victoria, who themselves are rich in rugby tradition, and have sported no less than 40 Wallabies over the years.
The next step was for the Rebels management team to introduce Rebels players as mentors to VRU clubs, as well as school clubs around Victoria, strengthening the bond between ‘amateur’ and ‘professional’ rugby for not just in 2011, but in the long-term.
This commitment indicates that the Rebels don’t want a top-heavy structure in the short-term, but rather want to build a culture of mentoring and support from the grassroots, and in doing so ensuring the Rebels success at the top in the long-term.
A strong foundation will ensure home grown players will be pulling the RaboDirect Rebels jerseys over their heads and wear it with pride in years to come.
With this in mind, each player representing the Rebels, knowingly signed themselves into extra responsibility. They are willing to go an extra mile in effort to promote rugby union and its culture in schools and clubs around Victoria: This in itself should tell you that we have not just players, but mentors and leaders in our squad of 32.
The Rebel Army is proud to be associated with players and management who are willing to look above and beyond the call of duty, or expectations set by any ‘standard’ club in the Super Series, and we can’t wait to report on the lasting impact these players, leaders will have on Victorian rugby in the years to come.
Herewith a rundown of the 32 Rebels players, and the clubs/schools they will be working with come 2011:
Peter Betham: Maroondah – St Francis Xavier College Beaconsfield
Rodney Blake: Box Hill – Geelong Grammar
Adam Byrnes: Power House – Brighton Grammar
Alister Campbell: Eltham – Xavier College
Tom Chamberlain: Maroondah – Ivanhoe Grammar
Danny Cipriani: Harlequins – Haileybury College
Sam Cordingley: Power House – Melbourne Grammar
Tim Davidson: Melton – Victoria Uni Secondary College
Gareth Delve: Footscray – Scotch College
JP Du Plessis: Box Hill – Mt Waverley Secondary College
Adam Freier: Melbourne – Marcellin College
Mark Gerrard: Southern Districts/ Cerberus – Trinity Grammar
Nic Henderson: Footscray – Trinity Grammar
James Hilgendorf: Melbourne – Melbourne High
Julian Huxley: Melbourne Uni – Xavier College
Luke Jones: Melbourne Uni – Craigieburn High
Richard Kingi: Northern – Marcellin College
Michael Lipman: Moorabbin – Mentone Grammar
Hoani Macdonald: Monash University Rugby Club – Carey Grammar
Lachlan Mitchell: Boroondara – Ivanhoe Grammar
Sterling Mortlock: Endeavour Hills – Carey Grammar
Kevin O’Neill: St Patricks College OC/University of Ballarat – St Patricks College
Hugh Pyle: Southern Districts/Cerberus – Melbourne Grammar
Ged Robinson: Harlequins – Haileybury College
Luke Rooney: Geelong – St Kevins College
Jarrod Saffy: Wyndham City – St Kevins College
Greg Somerville: Boroondara – Noble Park Secondary School
Afusipa Taumoepeau: Wyndham City – Braybrook Secondary School
Heath Tessmann: Monash University Womens/Womens Ambassador – Mt Waverly Secondary School
Cooper Vuna: Endeavour Hills – Mentone Grammar
Laurie Weeks: Bendigo Rugby Club – Scotch Collage
Nick Phipps: Moorabbin – Brighton Grammar
captain nemo
Roar Guru
I will be keen to see how Jarrod Saffy goes converting back to rugby. He picked league up quickly with the West Tigers when he went there from playing rugby with Sydney Uni as an Australian Schoolboy and Bennett then really converted him into a steady first grader at the dragons. I am curious what position he will find a home at??
Melb Rebel
Guest
Do the Rebels have any money? Directors recently resigned. What is the agreement with VRU. the Waratahs and NSW Rugby clear.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
for a bloody good laugh check out this link-- http://www.melbournerugby.com.au/MRUFC_Where.htm
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
strange post gatesy. Considering that 92 people have responded to the topic .. to me it seems a very topical topic, and people have many things to say about both the rebels and the force.. I dont really know what you are taking exception to ....
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
exactly cattledog. The private schools in Melbourne are those that tend to have established rugby teams. So it makes sense that in terms of schools rugby, the Rebels will start by providing a helping hand to exisitng schoolboy teams. On the other hand public school kids tend to go to rugby clubs to play their junior rugby, as their schools dont have rugby teams. I am sure that over time more work will be done in public schools. Also as you can see in the list that players are aligned to both schools and clubs, so in the clubs they would be helping kids who dont go to the private schools, or schools with rugby.
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
I agree AC.. I think that coming from a base of only 2 or 3 WA born and raised players having ever played Super rugby, to developing consistant high level local talent will take time, but by focussing on youth it will happen over time, and the production line of talent from Qld and NSW will also continue, with the Force giving opportunities to players missing out in those states. Overall, the Force is good for Aussie rugby, as the Rebels will be too.
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
I agree .. I also think that having both the Storm and Rebels in Melbourne will help break the confusion that Melburnians have between Rugby Union and League. With the media dominance of AFL, the general public often lump Uniona and League togther and wonder why Storm players dont play for the Wallabies. I think it is actually good for both sports, as it will help Melburnians see that rugby so popular it has different forms, getting more publicity for both and attracting players and supporters.
mortimer turdthumper
Guest
WA Rugby would go a long way to keeping their S14 players playing in Perth if they were to halve the number of teams in the comp which will greatly improve the standard. As an observation the Force don't take their acadamy seriously and what of the Rebels acadamy?. New franchises have a responsibility to develop the Aust talent pool and not just raid NSW and QLD.
Cattledog
Guest
OK, I read the website, didn't find this so called 'press release'? The article was good. A new team, not mine but I'm still interested in hearing and reading about them and if someone lets me know those things on the roar, then so be it. Shouldn't be insular about these things, and with the number of comments, it's generated more interest than many articles. For my mind, no problem. Like to hear about the other franchises as well.
gatesy
Roar Guru
So, read their website! Keep this one clean.
Cattledog
Guest
A pretty poor press release then, or do you think some of the wording's been changed? Where else have you seen it? Is Neville the media manager for the Rebels? If he is, smart move. If he isn't, and just wants to let the Roar know how things are progressing, then to me that's fine as well. Quite frankly, media release or not, I found it interesting and perhaps I wouldn't have seen it otherwise unless it was on here. Could use more of these to let people know what's happening with the teams as they build toward the coming season in 2011. As it is, now the 2010 seasons finished there will be sweet FA in the normal media outlets.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Point of Order, gents ....Zac, take note. This article was clearly a press release from the Rebels. Now don't get me wrong, because I am a passionate supporter of what they are doing, and they are definitely my second favourite team, but do we want the Roar (which is a place for great debate, discussion and original thought) to be hi-hjacked by press releases? Your call, gents!!
Dcc
Guest
As a Victorian but living currently in Somerset, I cannot wait to see the Rebels in action, hopefully Sky coverage is up to it. I joined the Weary Dunlop club 12 years ago when I was living in Melbourne and even at that embryonic stage I was bowled over with the enthusiam surrounding rugby in Melb/Vic. I think Rod MaQueen has assembled a nicely balanced squad and why people use the pergorative "journeyman" rather than the more correct "seasoned professional" is beyond me. I reckon by half way through the season both Hugh Pylie and Luke Jones will be starting for the Rebels and people will be saying "where did these guys come from?" I just hope Rodney Blake doesn't turn out to be a disappointment because like a few other Roarers I did see coverage of his rather ordinary performances in the Top 14.
Mike G
Guest
Thanks for that AC
Matt
Guest
Good stuff Temba! That's definitely an awesome attitude. Hopefully there'll be plenty of other Ex-pats who are keen to adopt their new hometown team too, plus some locals who've been waiting for this (Rugby in Melbourne) for far too long.
sage
Guest
I understand the theory of local talent being negatively affected by imports but "ordinary" ?? I'd be extremely happy to take back all the "ordinary" players the Force have pinched from the east, particularly QLD. Get a grip George
bilbo
Guest
There is only one weekend where the Storm and Rebels will clash - and even then they will be playing at the same ground so it will be at least a day apart. If both teams are starting up together, I would say that the Rebels have an advantage - there is at least a history of Union in Melbourne. Fortunately for the Storm, they have been plugging away for 12 years, and are seeing some juniors coming through the ranks. Gareth Widdop is a player of the future, and Richie Kennar has been carving it up for the Australian schoolboys. The Rebels play four less games than the Storm, and will inevitably enjoy the honeymoon period, so they would be drastically disappointed if they did not have a higher crowd average at the end of 2011. In the end, I think both teams will help each other - while Melbourne is talked about as a great sporting city, it really only has AFL and Cricket high in the public consciousness, with a bit of League and Football thrown in. Both Rugby codes will help each other in breaking down the dominance of AFL by increasing the public's awareness of other sports. AFL will still be the main game of course, but Melbourne will benefit from a more diverse sporting selection.
p.Tah
Guest
Nice line up, but Vuna as inside centre? He hasn't played Union. He won't be familiar with the defensive patterns straight away. I'd expect him to be on the wing initially. I'd have Saffy in the starting XV. He is a tough workhorse. He'll help the team go forward at the start of the game, allowing Vuna, Betham, Rooney and Gerrard to cause havoc out wide.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
i would say because in the future they're moving towards a domestic structure with a finals "heinekin cup" style series
bill
Guest
We have Queensland Reds, NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, Western (Australian) Force. All States/Territories rather than cities. Why not Victoria Rebels?