As Rugby Australia and the Melbourne Rebels sit down to discuss the debt-riddled Super Rugby franchise’s future, it can be revealed star recruit Filipo Daugunu missed last week’s loss to the Reds because of an outstanding debt owed to the outside back.
Officially, Daugunu, 29, missed the Rebels’ 53-26 loss to the Reds for “personal reasons”.
Unofficially, The Roar can reveal an outstanding $7,000 relocation debt owed to Daugunu forced the Wallaby’s hand to miss the match.
It’s believed Daugunu’s agent Damian McGregor-Lowndes gave the Super Rugby franchise until mid-Friday afternoon to settle the debt, but when it wasn’t lodged in time the Wallaby withdrew.
Filipo Daugunu chose to sit out of the Rebels’ fixture against the Reds last weekend. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
The issue surrounding the debt comes after the Rebels slipped into voluntary administration in late January.
Only days prior to that, Daugunu lodged his fee.
But when the Rebels fell into voluntary administration, Daugunu became a creditor.
While Rugby Australia is currently honouring the contracts of players and staff, Daugunu’s relocation fee sits outside his contract.
Recognising the can of worms that could be opened by paying Daugunu’s relocation fee, the governing body chose not to settle the fee.
That said, it’s understood RA presented several other options to try and come up with a temporary solution, including fast-tracking a later installment to resolve any cash-flow issues. It was turned down.
Daugunu, who featured for Australia A last year and has played seven Tests for the Wallabies, wasn’t sighted at the loss on Friday.
The star outside back, who has increasingly featured in the midfield, also wasn’t present at training on Monday ahead of Friday’s match against the Hurricanes.
As revealed by The Roar, Daugunu turned up at training on Tuesday but Rebels coach Kevin Foote has since told AAP the star recruit won’t be eligible for their next match across the Tasman.
“It’s between him and his agent and Rugby Australia and they’ve been trying to work it out,” Foote said.
“Filipo actually came to training today which is great – he’s not up for selection this week because it’s too late as we’ve already finished our training week but just to have him back is very pleasing for us.”
Filipo Daugunu has played seven Tests for the Wallabies since debuting in 2020. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
The back’s absence was felt against the Reds, with the Wallaby one of the side’s strongest over the ball.
Unable to slow the Reds’ ball down in the first half, the visitors scored five tries to a match-winning lead into half-time.
Such was the pace of the game that the Rebels replaced their starting props after 33 minutes, including mega-signing Taniela Tupou.
The messy situation gives a snapshot into the perilous state of affairs at the Rebels, as the franchise tries to keep it together as their future is played out publicly.
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Foote, whose contract was taken over by RA earlier this year and is employed until June 30, said the Rebels needed to get some clarity over their future soon.
“No news is not good news in this scenario because you actually start living in the future and that’s not good either,” Foote told AAP.
“You start worrying about things you don’t know anything about.
“There’s only three pay cheques left and when you think about that it’s very concerning.
“But the last thing I want is that they tell us that we’re not going to be around because then there could be a mass exodus or people thinking about jumping off.
“We’re still in the belief that we’ll be around and we can keep this group together because it’s a very talented group and we can do good things.”
After threatening legal action against RA earlier this month, it’s believed the national body has been brought to the table to meet with the Rebels this week.
RA chief executive Phil Waugh was in Melbourne on Monday spruiking the release of tickets for next year’s British and Irish Lions Tour.
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh says the Lions will still play a tour match in Melbourne on July 22 regardless of whether it’s against the Rebels or not. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
The city will host the second Test against the Lions at the MCG on July 26, while a Rebels fixture is still slated earlier that week at Marvel Stadium.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Waugh couldn’t’ guarantee the Lions would take on the Rebels given their financial situation but added it would be against someone, possibly Australia A, on July 22.
Waugh admitted the process was taking longer than he would have liked.
“The sooner we can get to an outcome for 2025 and beyond the better for everyone so we’re working through that,” he told AAP.
“Are we closer? Yes. Are we moving at the speed that we’d like to? Probably not, so we need to accelerate that and not just for the fans and those engaged in the sport in Melbourne but for the players and the staff.”
James Valentine
Roar Rookie
Ok. We will have to agree to disagree. :thumbup:
Guess
Roar Rookie
I can’t believe you seriously argue about word and not just trying to deflect. You think 7k are worth risking termination of players contract? He missed the game. He’s the one ‘failing to uphold contractual premise’. If it was part of the players contract then he’d have had some merit otherwise yes it’s his and his manager fault/stupidity
Guess
Roar Rookie
If ra can't enforce the contract they all can just stop playing, without even using any dodgy reason like daugunu. You seem to argue about semantics, insisting on calling that agreement a contract. I'm talking about players contract. Relative to it that agreement is nothing. He may force them to pay 7k but now it might free them from paying his salary lol
AndyS
Roar Rookie
It only matters in terms of expectation. Rugby supporters seem to expect the same level of interaction with their SR 'club' as they get at Randwick, or Brothers, etc, and get all bent out of shape that they don't get it. Supporters of the other codes don't, as they either don't know such a level even exists (not having played the game themselves to any level), or being sensible enough to not conflate the two levels because the functioning of the professional 'club' has been what it is since long before they were born. Agree that it is a problem with rugby being so reliant on ex-players and amateur club members. But that doesn't mean SR can meet unreasonable expectations and somehow function like amateur clubs. The charitable might say JON saw that the existing rugby supporters would make a poor base on which to build a professional sport, but it certainly seems to be proving the case and it is on RA for failing to replace them with people who understand what supporting professional sport means. Perhaps because RA itself consists of those same ill-adapted people.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't necessarily say that, but I certainly interact with it far more than the AFL members I know do with their clubs. Or have for as long as I've known them. They've done the odd tour, a couple have even managed to make a grand final, but across the board the relationship seems to be a struggle to get anything rather than helpful. Doesn't change their passion for the team though. Perhaps they are just masochists, or maybe they're just a bit more realistic in their expectations as to how professional organisations will interact with large numbers of supporters all wanting something. Haven't touched base for a while with the NRL members I used to know though, so couldn't say how involved they're doing with theirs.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Does it matter about calling them ‘clubs’ or ‘franchises’? There are no members and the sport is failing. What I figured a few years ago is that unless rugby supporters feel they are members of the club they played for, the NRC team, the SR team, then we will not achieve the level of support needed to fund the game in its present form. Rugby is sport that is played not watched. If you did not play, or have a close relationship with someone who did, you are unlikely to be a potential supporter. JON set this car crash in motion in 2003 where he very clearly articulated that the sport’s future was to be built on people who were not rugby supporters. Even if RA has a strategy (which they might not), they may not have repudiated it totally, they are probably desperate for an eyeball wherever they can find one. What they will not have is a totally focussed strategy on winning back the lost bolted on supporter.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
I will have to take your word for it Andy S and am glad your SR club provides adequate access to members, value for the membership, and has captured your emotional support. I am surprised at your comments though. For various reasons I joined a couple of NRL clubs in 2014 and found the experience to be a non-event. That has changed greatly since then and the size of club memberships reflect that. At the time AFL was seen as some genius type organisation but I believed then that it was mainly due to the benchmarks they were being compared with. They are pretty astute operators but they would have achieved a lot more in the last ten years if not complacent.
Dualcode
Roar Rookie
Bad to worse for both RA and the Rebels, Filipo's debt just adds financial insult to injury.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
One of many things he needs Andy.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
You realise the clubs they play against are also professional, right?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He's just an angry hypocritical old man mate. Squirrel has no issue with players or coaches coming for money when its Easts in the Shute Shield.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
As usual when challenged you change the topic.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Do you think RA would oppose a release?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
And now it's been confirmed he won't play again.
James Valentine
Roar Rookie
Maybe google ‘contract’ mate.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
I know members of a variety of clubs, particularly AFL, and I can state with certainty that, if anything, SR members get more rather than less access and involvement. The AFL probably does communication better, but there is a larger remove if anything.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
You are seriously overestimating the amount of thinking and planning done by a rugby administrator. I am no expert but will guarantee there is more access to players, and more inclusive activity for members in AFL and NRL clubs. Waratah members are largely a one time annual purchase of tickets over the internet. Admittedly there maybe the wrong box ticked on my account, but I have not heard from them for years. I could go and check but just going through the whole account saga at the start of the year leaves me confused at where I go to sign in, and not really wanting to bother. Did you see how many NRL club members were on organised tours to Las Vegas? What sort of value do you think is there for a club? The Waratahs don’t care if you go to away games. It would be useful for staff to spend the year organising member trips to the Super Round instead of match entertainment for 8 games. I will die wondering how much time, money and resources were spent organising the parade of all living Melbourne Cup champions. What a yawn, my son asked what it was, and I said it was the HT entertainment. He asked why it wasn’t entertaining. That was Dunning’s match, day of the field goal. Curiously NRL memberships cost a lot more than Waratah memberships, and there are a lot more members. A simple professional rugby KPI would be how many rugby supporters are SR club members, STAN subscribers, and attend at least two matches a season.
AndyS
Roar Rookie
Perhaps rugby stepped back from calling them clubs, specifically because there is such a strong club tradition in rugby and they knew their support bases brains wouldn't be able to handle it. I don't think the members of NRL or AFL 'clubs' have some mystical access denied the members of SR teams, just their supporters don't have unrealistic expectations. Perhaps because those other sports have effectively been professional for much longer, and no-one remembers any different. Can almost imagine some old bloke moaning in 1920 about how League wasn't like the old days, and predicting the sport would soon be dead as ragtime. Although even then, he probably wouldn't be going around telling every single person he met, taking ads out in papers, and sticking up posters everywhere to that effect. Which is effectively what the 'supporters' of rugby do these days.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
What role would he have played at the Reds? The starting prop who comes off at 35 minutes. The Reds idea of fast rugby would need a tailor made role for him, and maybe it might not have fitted.
Muglair
Roar Rookie
To get away from Thorn who probably demanded more than TT wanted to invest. If he was fair dinkum he would go to Ireland, the best thing for every party, and do his utmost to be the best he can be. I guess he would be huge in Japan and if he chooses to go there I will believe that he was never going to fulfil his potential.