Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan has paid the price for their worst ever Super Rugby season, with the club looking to replace him.
McGahan’s team managed one win from 15 rounds this season under the weight of a crushing injury toll and the pressure of being in the Australia Rugby Union’s sights as it seeks to cut a team.
While a decision is still to be made by the ARU on the Rebels’ future, McGahan won’t be a part of it.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, both parties said a decision had been made to look for a fresh start beyond the end of the current campaign.
“Tony has been a loyal and committed leader of the club since the moment he arrived in Melbourne,” Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson said.
“This has been a particularly tough year on and off the field and we are grateful for the resilience and determination Tony has shown to keep the players and staff focused on performance.
“Tony’s legacy will remain with the club through the program that he has established, processes that are in place and upcoming talent he has nurtured and we wish him the best in his future direction.”
McGahan failed to take the Rebels to the finals in his four years but has still been their most successful coach since the club joined the competition in 2011.
Most notably they have blooded eight eight Wallabies including last year’s Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year, Sean McMahon.
McGahan said he was sorry to leave but would help wherever required to make the transition as smooth and professional as possible.
The club has two remaining Super Rugby games under his leadership, against the Western Force in Perth on July 7 and the Jaguares from Argentina on July 14.
Bakkies
Guest
McGahan was never abrasive when he was at Munster.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Exactly, Dave R. The Rebels' second row stocks are the weakest of the Australian clubs but I dare say that wouldn't be the case if they still had Luke Jones, Hugh Pyle and Cadeyrn Neville on the list. Paul Alo-Emile was one that got away too... and is now lost to Australian rugby after being named for Samoa this weekend. Really rated him as a tightead.
DaveR
Guest
There have been significant internal coaching problems inside the Rebels for 2016 and 2017, its only the ARU f-up this year that has kept the focus off it. Both 2016 and 2017 seasons were badly damaged by the highest injury list in the conference, most of those injuries coming in the pre-season or trials. Clearly something was wrong in the pre season program/strength and conditioning area, and Rebels fans have been calling for an internal enquiry for two years now. Bottom line - its the head Coach's responsibility.
DaveR
Guest
One of the big problem with the Rebels has been the high turnover of players, which has had a major negative impact on team composition. The loss of second row Hugh Pyle to the Rebels-France (Stade Francais) has had a big effect on forwards strength, and Caedyrn Neville's falling out with McGahan was monumental. Add to that Paul Alo-Emile and more recently Higginbotham. In a situation like that you just cannot have an abrasive coach who at times appears to have played favourites against form.
piru
Roar Rookie
if I was Wessels I'd take the best offer with the highest level team I could - I doubt that's Melbourne.
John R
Roar Guru
Their S&C team should be due for the boot as well. 2 seasons in a row where virtually every player on the list has been out at some stage with injury. Surely that can't just be bad luck
John R
Roar Guru
They seem to be doing it again with outside backs now.
Bakkies
Guest
There will be two less head coaching jobs to fill in SA next year. For all the talk about the Pro 12 there is not enough time to jump to another competition as the European off season is very short and the SA announcement is next month. The Government will probably react when that announcement is made. You keep on seeing that the Bulls are being mentioned for the chop I say the ANC will get a rise out of that as they have signed up other unions with high numbers with players of colour for the Stormers and the Kings (Boland and Border).
Bakkies
Guest
They have already got letters of intent like the Brumbies have and will announce their signings soon.
Bakkies
Guest
'You sign on with a clause that gives you a generous payout should that happen.' All well and good but other opportunities will dry up elsewhere.
Bakkies
Guest
'Ended up with a really unbalanced side, too many loosies and no second row' That's always been a problem with the Rebels. They have overloaded on certain positions and left themselves short on others.
Bakkies
Guest
You would have to be a masochist to take the head coaching job at the Rebels. There would have to be a Director of Rugby on top of the head coach as the whole organisation Rugby wise needs to be torn apart and started from scratch. A head coach can't do it all on his own and then worry about results on the pitch.
Council
Guest
So why keep commenting?
sheek
Roar Guru
Or cares.....
Hannes
Guest
Good point but will not be surprised if this happen. The Force however needs to stay, the team is happy, well coach and playing better every year. The Rebels looks like a team that needs to rebuild with changes in coach, contracting old players from overseas etc. It would be dumb to axe the Force.
Hannes
Guest
A white coach that would rather want to coach in South Africa if he can coach in Australia? South Africans did not emigrate to Australia for the weather - if I was Wessels I would stay.
piru
Roar Rookie
I think TPN is leaving for Europe next year. There was a semi announcement a week or two ago that Coleman was going to Melbourne, which he then called out as not true. Who knows. As far as I'm concerned, the Force aren't going anywhere until we're told otherwise
Markus
Guest
I'm sure it will not just be the Rebels looking out for Force players should that eventuate. As a Brumbies fan I would have my eye on DHP, Rona, Meakes and Lance in the backs then Tatafu and either RHP or Naisarani in the forwards. Louwrens and Coleman would be heavily watched by all the east coast teams.
piru
Roar Rookie
Which begs the question - why bother culling the Force if you're just moving the team to Melbourne?
Highlander
Guest
Two years ago we were talking about McGahan in the same way Wessels was lauded this year. He did a really good job matching his game plan to his resources available as Wessels has done this season. Ended up with a really unbalanced side, too many loosies and no second row, and didnt seem to be able to adjust.