The Melbourne Rebels Women are an Australian rugby union team that competes in the annual Super Rugby Women's competition, after Rugby Australia announced that a 15-a-side women's rugby competition would be launched in 2018.[1][2]
| Union | Rugby Australia (Victoria) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rebels | ||
| Founded | 2017 | ||
| Location | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Region | Victoria | ||
| Coach(es) | Jason Rogers | ||
| Captain(s) | Ashley Marsters | ||
| League(s) | Super Rugby Women's | ||
| 2024 | 5th | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| melbournerebels | |||
History edit
The Rebels Women ended the inaugural Super W season without a single win after a 57–0 loss to the NSW Waratahs in the final round;[3] they were also held scoreless in two matches.[4] The 2019 season also ended without a single win for the Rebels as they finished at the bottom of the table. They registered their first Super W win in the 2020 season after beating the Rugby WA team in round four of the regular season.[nb 1]
In 2021, the Rebels did not win any matches during the regular season and were edged by the Brumbies in the playoffs.[5] The 2022 season saw their final round match with the Western Force cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]
Financial woes in 2024 edit
The Melbourne Rebels were placed in voluntary administration in January 2024 with over $20 million in debt and reportedly had just $17,300 in the bank.[8][9] Ten administrative staff and CEO, Baden Stephenson, were made redundant and coaches were given four-month contracts.[10][11] Rugby Australia's CEO, Phil Waugh, confirmed that the women’s contracts would be honoured in the same manner as the Rebels’ male players but was not able to place a time line on any decision about the club’s existence beyond 2024.[11]
Ashley Marsters was named as the Rebels Women's captain for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season.[12]
Current squad edit
On 20 February, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season was announced.[13][14]
| Rebels Super W squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Loose Forwards
Scrum-halves
Fly-halves
|
Centres
Wingers
Fullbacks
|
| (cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, SP denotes a shadow player and ST indicated short-term cover. | ||
Season standings edit
Super W
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Play-offs 2024 5th 5 1 0 4 85 136 −51 0 4 Did not compete 2023 6th 5 0 0 5 40 154 –114 0 1 Did not compete 2022 5th 4 0 1 3 37 205 –168 0 2 Lost 5th place match to Brumbies 2021 3rd, Pool B 3 0 0 3 25 57 −32 1 1 Lost 5th place match to Brumbies 2020 4th 4 1 0 3 59 188 −129 2 6 Did not compete 2019 5th 4 0 0 4 22 285 −263 0 0 Did not compete 2018 5th 4 0 0 4 21 239 −218 0 0 Did not compete
Coaches edit
| Coach | Term | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alana Thomas | 2018–2022 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 5.26% |
| Jason Rogers | 2023–Present | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.00% |
| Totals (2018–Present)* | 24 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 4.16% | |
| Updated to: 6 March 2024 | ||||||
Notes:
Notes edit
- ^ The Western Force played under the name Rugby WA in 2019 and 2020.
References edit
- ^ "Super W: Rugby Australia announces national women's competition, but advocate slams lack of player wages". ABC. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ "Victoria to compete in Super W". melbournerebels.rugby. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Rebels Women fall to classy Waratahs Women to end season". melbournerebels.rugby. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Super W in Review: Rebels' future bright". melbournerebels.rugby. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Ayers, Harry (3 July 2021). "Waratahs win fourth straight Buildcorp Super W Title". australia.rugby. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (7 April 2022). "Super W: All the team news for Round Six". rugby.com.au.
- ^ "Buildcorp Super W Western Force vs Melbourne Rebels match postponed". rugby.com.au. 7 April 2022.
- ^ Jaeger, Carla; Payten, Iain (25 January 2024). "Melbourne Rebels enter voluntary administration in desperate bid for survival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Jaeger, Carla (13 February 2024). "With just $17,000 in the bank, Rebels' fate to be decided within weeks". The Age. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Payten, Iain; Jaeger, Carla (14 February 2024). "Rebels survival hopes fading as CEO and staff lose jobs, coaches given four-month contracts". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Rugby Australia confirm Melbourne Rebels' participation in Super W 2024". www.rugbypass.com. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Leota and Marsters to Captain Rebels in 2024". melbournerebels.rugby. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Former Wallaroos skipper joins Rebels after Roosters stint, key stars back from UK". The Roar. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 February 2024). "Super Rugby Women's Squads confirmed for 2024 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.