Rugby Australia has told the Melbourne Rebels’ administrators it will vote against salvaging the struggling rugby union club at a creditors meeting, claiming an independent report by PwC misled creditors and was biased towards its former directors.

Tensions over the future of the Victorian rugby union club escalated dramatically on Thursday when the governing body sent a letter to administrators PwC, alleging its report favoured the claims of the Rebels’ former directors and had not included its defence to suggestions it is liable for $8.1 million in funding and unpaid PAYG tax liabilities.