Melbourne Rebels aim to be Super Rugby's 'Friday night kings' - which includes Good Friday

MELBOURNE Rebels are daring to go where AFL won't by staging a Super Rugby match on Good Friday.

New Melbourne Rebels coach Tony McGahan. Picture: Dino Panato.

MELBOURNE Rebels are daring to go where AFL won't by staging a Super Rugby match on Good Friday.

Intent on becoming rugby's "Friday night kings", the Rebels will face Western Force at AAMI Park on April 18.

While the AFL has steadfastly resisted overtures to stage matches on Good Friday, the Rebels sense the vacant timeslot could be a marketing bonanza.

"Our Good Friday fixture against the Western Force is the only game of any football code in Melbourne that evening, and represents a great opportunity for members to bring their friends and family along to experience a Rebels fixture for the first time against one of our arch rivals," club chief executive Rob Clarke said.

Melbourne will play 12 of its 16 matches, and all eight home games, on Fridays.

"Fridays allow for all people to kick off their weekend in a positive way, after a long week of work or school," Clarke said.

"It also allows them to keep the rest of their weekend free for all their other commitments, and we are thrilled to have secured blockbuster games such as the return of the Crusaders.''

With South African teams kicking off the season on February 15, Australian and New Zealand franchises will have to wait an extra week, and in the Rebels' case, two weeks.

New coach Tony McGahan, in charge of a team that has parted ways with Wallabies James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale, will chase the club's first win abroad.

"We are determined to win overseas in 2014, and we know we have a massive challenge ahead of us," general manager of rugby Sam Cordingley said.

"The New Zealand trip allows us the opportunity to try and secure a first ever victory against the two-time tournament-winning Chiefs, as well as try to continue our positive momentum against the Highlanders.

"Our South African trip sees us with the daunting task of facing the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria), as well as pitting ourselves against a Lions side we failed to beat last time we were in Johannesburg.

"We are confident that if we perform to the best of our ability, we can taste success abroad in 2014."

As well as playing home and away matches against NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and Western Force, the Rebels will host the Cheetahs, Crusaders, Sharks and Hurricanes at AAMI Park.

All AAMI Park matches start at 7.40pm.

MELBOURNE REBELS' SUPER RUGBY DRAW

Round 1 - February 15 - No Australian or NZ teams play

Round 2 - February 21-23 - Rebels bye

Round 3 - Friday February 28 - Rebels v Cheetahs, AAMI Park

Round 4 - Saturday March 8 - Force v Rebels, Perth

Round 5 - Friday March 14 - Rebels v Crusaders, AAMI Park

Round 6 - Friday March 21 - Waratahs v Rebels, Sydney

Round 7 - Friday March 28 - Rebels v Brumbies, AAMI Park

Round 8 - Friday April 4 - Highlanders v Rebels, Dunedin

Round 9 - Saturday April 12 - Chiefs v Rebels, Hamilton

Round 10 - Friday April 18 - Rebels v Force, AAMI Park

Round 11 - April 25-26 - Rebels bye

Round 12 - Friday May 2 - Rebels v Sharks, AAMI Park

Round 13 - Friday May 9 - Rebels v Hurricanes, AAMI Park

Round 14 - Saturday May 17 - Reds v Rebels, Brisbane

Round 15 - Friday May 23 - Rebels v Waratahs, AAMI Park

Round 16 - Saturday May 31 - Brumbies v Rebels, Canberra

Season break for June internationals

Round 17 - Friday June 27 - Rebels v Reds, AAMI Park

Round 18 - Friday July 4 - Lions v Rebels, Johannesburg

Round 19 - Friday July 11 - Bulls v Rebels, Pretoria.

Finals series starts - July 16

Super Rugby final - August 2

(All Rebels home games start at 7.40pm)

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