Melbourne Rebels Women

Last updated

Melbourne Rebels Women
Union Rugby Australia (Victoria)
Nickname(s)Rebels
Founded2017;8 years ago (2017)
Disbanded2024
Location Melbourne, Australia
Region Victoria
Coach(es)Jason Rogers
Captain(s) Ashley Marsters
League(s) Super Rugby Women's
2024 5th
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2nd kit
Official website
melbournerebels.com

The Melbourne Rebels Women were an Australian rugby union team that competed in the annual Super Rugby Women's competition. The team was formed after Rugby Australia announced that a 15-a-side women's rugby competition would be launched in 2018. [1] [2]

Contents

In their seven seasons in the competition, the Rebels won only one match and finished with a 1–22 win-loss record, as well as one draw. In October 2024, Rugby Australia announced that Melbourne Rebels Women would not compete in the 2025 season and beyond, finding that there was no financially viable option available to sustain the team. [3]

History

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; [4] they were also held scoreless in two matches. [5] 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. [6] The 2022 season saw their final round match with the Western Force cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] [8]

Financial woes in 2024

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. [9] [10] Ten administrative staff and CEO, Baden Stephenson, were made redundant and coaches were given four-month contracts. [11] [12] 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. [12]

Ashley Marsters was named as the Rebels Women's captain for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season. [13]

On 2 October 2024, Rugby Australia confirmed that the Melbourne Rebels will not compete in the Super Rugby Women's competition in 2025, with Rugby Australia stating that an investigation into the viability of maintaining the Rebels women's program did not identify a financially viable option for either Rugby Australia or Rugby Victoria to sustain the program in 2025. [14]

Current squad

On 20 February, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season was announced. [15] [16]

Rebels Super W squad

Props

  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Laiema Bosenavulagi
  • Flag of Samoa.svg Ana Mamea
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hayley Glass
  • Flag of Fiji.svg Jiowana Sauto
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paula Ioane

Hookers

Locks

  • Flag of Samoa.svg Easter Savelio
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tiarah Minns
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Fapiola Uoifaleahi

Loose Forwards

  • Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Laetitia Bobo
  • Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg Mel Kawa (vc)
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sui Pauaraisa
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Hollie Twidale
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney Niupulusu
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Grace Hamilton

Scrum-halves

  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lucy Brown

Fly-halves

  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cassie Siataga
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sarah Hogan

Centres

  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Crystal Mayes
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harmony Vatau
  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Grace Freeman
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Georgia Fowler

Wingers

Fullbacks

  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Chanelle Kohika-Skipper
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Teuila Pritchard
  • Flag of Australia (converted).svg Millicent Scutt
(cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, SP denotes a shadow player and ST indicated short-term cover.

    Season standings

    Super W

    YearPosPldWDLFA+/-BPPts  Play-offs
    2024 5th510485136−5104  Did not compete
    2023 6th500540154–11401  Did not compete
    2022 5th401337205–16802  Lost 5th place match to Brumbies
    2021 3rd, Pool B30032557−3211  Lost 5th place match to Brumbies
    2020 4th410359188−12926  Did not compete
    2019 5th400422285−26300  Did not compete
    2018 5th400421239−21800  Did not compete

    Coaches

    Melbourne Rebels Women coaches by date, matches and win percentage*
    CoachTermPWDLWin %
    Alana Thomas 2018–20221911175.26%
    Jason Rogers2023–202450150.00%
    Totals (2018–2024) * 2411224.16%
    Updated to: 6 March 2024

    Notes:

    ^* Official Super Rugby Women's competition matches only, including finals.

    Notes

    1. ↑ The Western Force played under the name Rugby WA in 2019 and 2020.

    References

    1. ↑ "Super W: Rugby Australia announces national women's competition, but advocate slams lack of player wages". ABC . 13 December 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
    2. ↑ "Victoria to compete in Super W". melbournerebels.rugby. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
    3. ↑ "2025 Super Rugby Women's competition update". rugby.com.au. 2 October 2024.
    4. ↑ "Rebels Women fall to classy Waratahs Women to end season". melbournerebels.rugby. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
    5. ↑ "Super W in Review: Rebels' future bright". melbournerebels.rugby. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
    6. ↑ Ayers, Harry (3 July 2021). "Waratahs win fourth straight Buildcorp Super W Title". australia.rugby. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
    7. ↑ Williamson, Nathan (7 April 2022). "Super W: All the team news for Round Six". rugby.com.au.
    8. ↑ "Buildcorp Super W Western Force vs Melbourne Rebels match postponed". rugby.com.au. 7 April 2022.
    9. ↑ 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.
    10. ↑ 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.
    11. ↑ 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.
    12. 1 2 "Rugby Australia confirm Melbourne Rebels' participation in Super W 2024". www.rugbypass.com. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
    13. ↑ "Leota and Marsters to Captain Rebels in 2024". melbournerebels.rugby. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
    14. ↑ "2025 Super Rugby Women's competition update". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
    15. ↑ "Former Wallaroos skipper joins Rebels after Roosters stint, key stars back from UK". The Roar. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
    16. ↑ Williamson, Nathan (20 February 2024). "Super Rugby Women's Squads confirmed for 2024 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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