Dave Wessels’ tenure at the Melbourne Rebels has come to an end after he resigned as head coach of the franchise.
Wessels’ decision is effective immediately, meaning he will not coach the Rebels in the upcoming Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season. No interim head coach has been announced yet, although the Rebels said they will “communicate [their] decisions” for the tournament next week.
Wessels took over as head coach of the Melbourne side at the start of 2018 after leading the Western Force prior to their axing from Super Rugby.
However, after missing the Super Rugby AU finals this year in a campaign that was hampered by an extensive injury list and a number of near-misses, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, he said it was time to pass the role onto someone new.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve reflected a lot and I feel the time is right to pass the baton to someone else,” Wessels said in a statement released at lunchtime on Friday.
“Living in Melbourne and coaching the Melbourne Rebels has been a wonderful experience. I’ve learnt an incredible amount, built some really strong friendships and I feel confident that I am leaving the club in a really good place.
“When I was first appointed interim head coach at the Western Force I had the final three games of the 2016 season to start leading and preparing the club for the future. It gave me the opportunity to gain some valuable experience and test myself without the full responsibility of the job. I would like to give someone else that same opportunity; to test themselves and grow for the next phase in the club’s journey.”
Under Wessels, the Rebels made their finals debut in Super Rugby AU 2020 despite having to spend the entire competition on the road due to the pandemic, but they also missed a number of opportunities to break their post-season duck earlier, with a series of near-misses in the previous seasons.
They finished second in the Australian Conference in both 2018 and 2019, but missed out on making the semi-finals after losing their last three games of the season in both years. That left them two points shy of eighth place in 2019, while points difference had kept them out of the finals the year before.
Before the pandemic forced the suspension of the Super Rugby season in 2020, the Rebels were in second place in Australia, although were once again ranked ninth in the overall standouts.
Last year, Dave was kind enough to write an opinion piece for The Roar, outlining some suggestions to improve rugby union right now.
“When Dave commenced the role at the end of 2017 it took a very special coach to lead our club through a period of intense change and he has done an almighty job to establish and evolve many foundations that the club will continue to build on in the future,” Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson said.
“Dave developed Wallabies, identified and unearthed some elite talent, achieved the most successful seasons in the club’s history amongst some very memorable victories. Dave’s work ethic, detail, desire, generosity and leadership were hallmarks of his tenure and I look forward to working with him over the coming months to set the club up for future success.”
After finishing fourth in this year’s Super Rugby AU tournament, the Rebels begin their Trans-Tasman campaign on May 15 at home against the Blues.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Wessels resigned he was n0t sacked
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
There is just so much we agree on. Let me assure you in NSW there is even greater frustration with NSW. Your Brumbies thrive on giving NSW born and bred players opportunities they do not get in NSW. I am not sure it is the coach who is to blame. Foley was much criticised, as was Cheika for sticking with him but what RWC 2019 showed us was that our 10 ranks were thin - hard to blame Cheika for that. Lealifano and To’ouma were not up to it either. Beale and Cooper got picked over the years because they were players who could create opportunities but both were flawed. Mr Pulver was a Shore boy - not Kings but similar story. PS - you should see the grandstands at Shore better than most NSW local councils can afford.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Wouldn't be surprised as politics rules Rugby and has done for years. Penrith was an interesting situation, when my partner's boys were playing there, they dumped most of the colts and brought in a school team of islander boys to replace them. So they went from an ok team to a better team for a while until they got into a huge fight after a game against Norths, it all fell in a hole. There were some guys working hard to make it happen and many others who couldn't give a stuff.
MarlinsTragic
I think DW showed that Jake ball didn’t work for the Rebels this year.
MarlinsTragic
I heard him talk about his Penrith stint on a Podcast last year, RugbyKO I think, he said politics got in the way out there & Jeremy Paul mentioned the same thing a few years ago.
Carl Spackler
Guest
The correct decision was made to axe the Perth team in the first place. Only because they have a single billionaire backer and a worldwide pandemic to get them back. The travel costs alone keeping them in the competition would bankroll the rest of the Aussie teams. Keep the 5th franchise but relocate the team from Perth to northern Sydney.
BrumbiesFan
Guest
I can see your point on Powell-Toomua Objective Observer, though still believe the Brumbies got better out of both. As for your comment about me enjoying seeing the 'Tahs down, it's called 'rivalry' and anybody with the faintest understanding of Brumbies history would know why. And, besides, in Super Rugby AU somebody has to come last... and I can't support all five Aussie Rugby provinces! On a broader level though, there is huge frustration with the Waratahs outside of NSW. RA gave NSW the keys to the kingdom with Michael Cheika as Wallaby Coach and sole selector, choosing a core of Waratahs players regardless of form. And the losses just kept piling up. When change was needed, Cheika engineered Larkham's removal, although he can't have been the problem! Larkham clearly had no say in selection or tactics as "attack" coach, or else surely he would have selected more Brumbies players, his players who he knew and coached, playing Brumbies rugby, the kind of rugby he played and coached his players to play. So, Larkham out as a scapegoat, and the NSW-connected Nathan Grey safe as defense coach... and the Wallaby defense was appalling! Too many players out of position, covering defensive passengers like Beale and Cooper. And what did it get us? Our lowest World Ranking in history. At Super Rugby level, NSW is where good rugby goes to die and, at Test level, the Kings Old School Tie almost killed the Wallabies...
Except Deans, Link and Jake white could coach teams to score tries. Wessels struggles with this...
stillmissit
Roar Guru
It was the Who - we won't get fooled again, 1971.
Rainman
Guest
The lure would be taking cellar dwellers to the penthouse a la Robbie Deans, Link, Jake White etc. As a heartland state they have a greater chance at success compared to the experimental unions of Victoria or WA
Paul
Roar Rookie
Nicolai, I'm a foundation member also. Dave Wessels is the longest serving coach and our most successful one. From a personal point of view I think he's been the best so far. I think he'll leave a big vacuum.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Good argument SMI. I believe you are right about most people. But I always hope the players in the teams I admire or support, in this case all the Aus rugby teams (and the Kiwis), are better than you average
JoeBruce. Btw I thought I was a 70s song lyric guru, but I don’t recognise the quote. What/who is it?Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Well until Horan blurted out DW is in trouble I didn't think he was under any pressure internally or externally. The timing is terrible particular with what's happening in Tahland and now with RA announcing further funding cuts or player wager cuts god knows how many of our good players will hang around . Hopefully leading up to a world cup may act as a carrot for some. If DW stays I'm confident he keeps the squad solid, not sure now. I'm a believer to grow the game we need all of our current s\ r teams but we also need some fresh air or some $ stability and right now the game cannot take a trick. On a positive we get two new coaches with fresh ideas let's hope we don't loose any more our top talent.
UpperCrust
Guest
A decent man who will be missed by all and sundry. I look forward to seeing who the Rebels secure (fingers crossed for Jake White)
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
Coleman apparently is doing wonders with the new MLR team LA Giltinis. I don't think he'd want to leave that team just yet, especially for the unknown condition of the Rebels.
Objective Observer
Roar Rookie
Why would you be surprised that a backline including Powell and To’ouma is not effective, both are solid but ordinary players. Only included in the 2019 RWC squad when Johnson and O’Connor were selectors. I can never understand why any “fan” of rugby in Aus would want to see an Aus team struggle. That is just sad.
Harry Jones
Expert
There’s truth in that. But I wish the man—the husband, the father—well. Tough gig.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
tsuru: Reasonable idea but it is against human nature. We have a natural tendency to relax when we are not under threat and if under threat constantly ie Cheika era, brings about a similar response or in the case of war, possibly a breakdown. The new coach brings the fear of the unknown either consciously or unconsciously and we all lift our game until we realise 'Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss' to miss quote a song from the 70's?
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
It's a red ocean of highly competitive sporting options. The Rebels don't just compete against league and AFL but a number of tribal AFL teams and their loyalties. Strategically it's a terrible decision. It's like trying to introduce a new brand of generic cola to the market. A very expensive endeavour when funds are in sorry supply.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Hoping he will. He arrived in 2019 so he’s a long way towards qualifying, if that’s what he wants. https://melbournerebels.rugby/news/2019/11/29/get-to-know-cabous-eloff