Former owner Harold Mitchell says it would be tragedy if Rebels were lost to Melbourne

HE burned through an estimated $8 million at the Rebels but former owner Harold Mitchell says it would be a “tragedy” if Melbourne lost its franchise.

The Rebels have worked hard to build their franchise. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

HE burned through an estimated $8 million at the club but former Rebels owner Harold Mitchell says it would be a “tragedy” if Melbourne lost its Super Rugby franchise.

Mitchell threw his support behind the under-threat Rebels as foundation player Laurie Weeks forecast the death of rugby in Melbourne if the team was shut down.

Players are on edge after it emerged Melbourne are facing an uncertain future, courtesy of renewed talks between the ARU and owner Andrew Cox about a potential buyout of the Rebels’ licence.

FUTURE: Are the Rebels finished?

Harold Mitchell fears for the game's future in Melbourne.

Though Cox denied the ARU had tabled an offer, it is understood ARU boss Bill Pulver met Cox last week in Melbourne.

The Rebels board met on Monday to consider a range of options.

With Cox irate about the damage to the club’s brand when named by the ARU as one of two clubs who may be cut, and believing the ARU didn’t share their pessimism about five teams when they sold the licence, the club continues to reserve its legal rights.

With the Rebels performing poorly this season and attracting small crowds to AAMI Stadium, some Victorian rugby identities are concerned Cox may sell the licence to the ARU, and that the franchise would be wound up.

Cox has previously stated he would not sell if the ARU’s intention was to shut down the Rebels.

Mitchell left the Rebels in 2013 after taking a heavy financial loss but he remains a firm believer in the city having a Super Rugby team.

“I was delighted to assist where I could at the beginning of the Rebels and to support the club for its first three years because the Victorian government had built one of the great stadiums in a city that loves all sports, and they were very keen for Melbourne to have a rugby team in it,” Mitchell said.

“This is an amazing sporting city, and it would be a tragedy for the Australian Rugby Union to deny Melbourne a rugby union team.”

Mitchell declined to speculate on Cox’s thinking regarding the possible sale of licence or private sporting team ownership, saying he didn’t know enough detail.

Weeks said it had reached a point now where continued uncertainty around its future is actually worse than a decision being made one way or the other — regardless of which way it falls for the Rebels.

Talks continued behind the scenes on Tuesday, with parties including Cox, the ARU, the Victorian Government and Rugby Union Players Association involved on some level.

The Rebels have worked hard to build their franchise. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

RUPA, an advocate for the status quo, is continuing to agitate strongly on behalf of its members.

“I think it’s affecting a lot of guys personally,” Weeks said. “The doubts around the future, that transfers on to the field.

“But, look, our focus just has to stay on the upcoming games. That’s all we can do.”

Having been at the Rebels since Day 1 in the inaugural pre-season of 2010, Weeks knows first hand the potential of his club.

“We’ve worked really hard over the last seven years to build rugby up in Melbourne,” he said. “And I think if Australia lost Melbourne they’d never make it back here.”