Melbourne Rebellion as 11 stars snub NSW Waratahs amid Rugby Australia contract talks

The Waratahs’ hopes of landing a host of Melbourne Rebels stars are in tatters as key group opt for rival clubs, with some even choosing club rugby over pulling on the NSW colours.

A PLAYER mutiny is threatening Rugby Australia’s plan to rebuild the NSW Waratahs, with several Melbourne Rebels stars snubbing the Sydney franchise.

This masthead can reveal that 11 Rebels players have nominated clubs other than NSW to join next season, after RA pulled Melbourne’s license for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

They are: Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Leota, Isaac Kailea, David Feluiai, Pone Fa’amausili, Darby Lancaster, Matt Gibbon, Lachie Anderson, Ethan Dobbins, Lukas Ripley.

11 Rebels players have opted for clubs outside NSW. Picture: William WEST / AFP

Most of them have nominated the Queensland Reds.

Some feel so strongly about rejecting NSW’s approaches, they have vowed to RA through their agents that they will play club rugby if they are stopped from joining their nominated club.

It will be a major concern for RA, given the need for NSW to be competitive.

They have recently appointed head coach Dan McKellar - touted as a future Wallabies coach - and director of rugby Simon Raiwalui to oversee the rebuild after finishing with the wooden spoon this year.

And RA had hoped that a host of Rebels stars would opt to join NSW once the Melbourne franchise was axed.

For a variety of reasons, the majority of players have expressed a lack of interest in the Waratahs. Some players want to move to a city where they are close to family members, others believe they will develop more at rival clubs, and all are concerned by the cost of living pressures in Sydney.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Taniela Tupou and Isaac Kailea are included in the group nominating clubs outside NSW. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

RA guaranteed all players contracts when axing the Rebels.

The money they were contracted for in 2025 will be honoured. But for a player on a wage of $150,000, the living costs associated with a move to Sydney far outweigh Canberra, Perth and Brisbane.

RA is aware of the players’ disgruntlement.

“We are still working through that process with the players,” an RA spokesman said.

“The Tahs needed to conclude the recruitment process for their director of performance and head coach. They now have a truly world class team in Simon Raiwalui and Dan McKellar, and they are already heavily involved in the recruitment process with players.”

Dan McKellar has recently been appointed head coach of the NSW Waratahs. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

But with the Waratahs training in their eastern suburbs hub of Daceyville, rents close to the facility are pricey.

There was also the extended time RA took to appoint McKellar – confirmed last week after Darren Coleman was sacked in May – that led players to consider NSW an unstable club.

This masthead has learned one player has already taken up a lease in Brisbane, despite RA hoping he will join NSW.

There are several who are so adamant they won’t be forced to sign with the Tahs, they will play club rugby in 2025, earn their wages from RA, but miss the chance of representing the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions.

There is a precedent. When the Western Force were axed from Super Rugby in 2017, Robbie Coleman spent the following year playing for Gordon in the Shute Shield, before signing a deal in French rugby.

RA has previously told the players they will not be forced to join any club.

David Feliuai. Picture: Joe Allison/Getty Images

Former Rebels' captain Rob Leota. Picture: Grant Down / AFP

But the NSW market is crucial for their bottom line. It is the biggest in terms of participation and population, and RA needs a winning Waratahs team to increase match attendances and more importantly television viewership, as they embark on broadcast rights negotiations.

RA took over the operations of the NSW Waratahs earlier this year, and this week announced a similar alignment with the Brumbies, after both clubs faced financial difficulty.

RA is quietly hoping that now the coaching and high performance appointments have been finalised, they can sell their vision for NSW Rugby and convince some of the players to change their minds.

Wallabies outside back Filipo Daugunu and rising second row star Josh Canham have already inked deals with Queensland. Daugunu is signed for 2025 while Canham has a two-year deal until the end of 2026.

Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon and hooker Jordan Uelese have already obtained early releases from RA. Gordon has signed with NRL club Gold Coast Titans while Uelese has joined French club Montpellier.

The Waratahs have also lost Mark Nawaqanitawase. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

The Waratahs have two major signings on board for next year; NRL superstar Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, and Wallabies outside back Andrew Kellaway.

But they have lost multiple players to overseas clubs including Test capped Izaia Perese, Ned Hanigan and Lachie Swinton, while winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will join NRL club Sydney Roosters upon his return from the Paris Olympics rugby sevens campaign.

The development comes on the eve of the Wallabies’ first match in Melbourne since the Rebels were shut down. They face Wales at AAMI Park on Saturday night, having won the first match in Sydney last weekend.

Originally published as Melbourne Rebellion as 11 stars snub NSW Waratahs amid Rugby Australia contract talks