23 Facts About Melbourne Rebels

1.

Melbourne Rebels is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Melbourne.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,629
2.

Melbourne Rebels had, to that point, successfully hosted several Wallaby test matches which the Victorian Rugby Union used to demonstrate a ground swell of support for rugby union by the Victorian public.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,630
3.

The Melbourne Rebels were established for the inaugural season of the Australian Rugby Championship by virtue of NSW surrendering a fourth team in favour of Victoria.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,631
4.

The Melbourne Rebels bid petitioned the ARU to submit only one of the three bids to SANZAR.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,632
5.

The Melbourne Rebels announced the succession plan, citing Boland's credentials as an executive at Visy and Veolia, and his presidency of the Parramatta Rugby Club during its rebuilding phase.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,633
6.

Melbourne Rebels proved to be a financial drain on the Australian Rugby Union; the franchise was responsible for more than half of the ARU's deficit of A$6.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,634
7.

In June 2015, the ARU announced that the Melbourne Rebels had been purchased by locally based Imperium Sports Management.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,635
8.

Melbourne Rebels colours are based on the state of Victoria's traditional colour of navy blue.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,636
9.

Melbourne Rebels played two pre-season games against Tonga, and one against Fiji, before facing the Crusaders, a fortnight before Round One.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,637
10.

Melbourne Rebels won their Round Six home-game against the Wellington Hurricanes, and their Round Seven clash against the Western Force.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,638
11.

For Rounds 13 and 14 the Melbourne Rebels travelled to South Africa for games against the Bulls and the Cheetahs.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,639
12.

Melbourne Rebels finished 15th on the overall competition log and last in the Australian conference winning 3 games and falling 3 log points short the Cheetahs debut season .

FactSnippet No. 1,225,640
13.

The Melbourne Rebels announced a week-long post season tour; playing Bath, Worcester and European champions Leinster.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,641
14.

Melbourne Rebels in 2015 was a settled outfit with 20 of the players from the previous season being retained.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,642
15.

Young players including Jack Debreczeni, Nic Stirzaker and Sean McMahon all flourished as the Melbourne Rebels secured 7 wins across the season, the most in a season since its inception.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,643
16.

The Melbourne Rebels signed Reece Hodge from the pathway although he was not a local player.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,644
17.

The Melbourne Rebels won 3 of their first 4 games and after defeating the Cheetahs in round 9 were top of the Australian conference, however an injury crisis would see them fall to 3rd in the Australian conference and 12th overall.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,645
18.

The Melbourne Rebels had recruited strongly in the off season with Welsh international Dominic Day, Japanese international Amanaki Mafi and NRL star Marika Koroibete joining along with a selection of young talent including another young Victorian talent Jordan Uelese, who would win his first Australian cap at the end of the season.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,646
19.

The Melbourne Rebels, playing all their fixtures away from home and staying in hotels in New South Wales and the ARU due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in Victoria, won 4 of their 8 group games qualifying them for the qualifying final against the Reds, the first time any Melbourne Rebels side had made the Super Rugby playoffs stage, with a 79th minute Cabous Eloff try and conversion allowing them to beat the Force by enough points in their final group match to qualify.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,647
20.

The Melbourne Rebels though were unable to win any of their Trans-Tasman fixtures, finishing in 9th place, only ahead of the Waratahs on points difference, having picked up no bonus points.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,648
21.

Melbourne Rebels are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,649
22.

On 4 August 2017, with the threat of the Melbourne Rebels franchise being 'axed' from Super Rugby, Imperium Sports Management and CEO Andrew Cox relinquished control of the Melbourne Rebels, transferring its shares at $1 per share to the Victorian Rugby Union.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,650
23.

The squads are composed of Melbourne Rebels contracted players, extended training squad members, Victorian U19s, and selected Dewar Shield club players.

FactSnippet No. 1,225,651