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Jessica Halloran is a Walkley award-winning sports writer. She has been covering sport for two decades and has reported from Olympic Games, world swimming and athletics championships, the rugby World Cup as well as the AFL and NRL finals series. In 2017 she wrote Jelena Dokic’s biography Unbreakable which went on to become a bestseller.

@JessiHalloran

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exclusiveNation

The Melbourne Rebels board has accused Rugby Australia, including chief executive Phil Waugh and chairman Dan Herbert, of deliberately underfunding Super Rugby.

RA ‘out to destroy Super Rugby’

An explosive Melbourne Rebels manifesto claims Rugby Australia underfunded Super Rugby in order to ‘destroy’ it, with a plan to merge with Moana Pasifika also revealed.

Jessica Halloran

super rugby crisisRugby Union

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 03: Rebels players prepare for a scrum during the Super Rugby Pacific Trial Match between Melbourne Rebels and NSW Waratahs at Harold Caterson Reserve on February 03, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Rebels’ future further in doubt as debt climbs to $20m

The Melbourne rugby union franchise’s debt is understood to be double previous estimates, with the ACT Brumbies also heading for voluntary administration.

Jessica Halloran

exclusiveNation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 01: Kalyn Ponga of the Knights runs the ball during the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Newcastle Knights at PointsBet Stadium on April 01, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

NRL’s second hit after study goes missing

In 2019 the NRL started a study using smart mouthguards to measure the game’s impact its leading footballers’ brains – the results of it have never appeared – now the league says it will start a trial using the same tech.

Jessica Halloran and Wendy Carlisle

RugbyRugby Union

SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 14: Taniela Tupou during a Wallabies training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, at Stade Roger Baudras on September 14, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

It’s Rebel hell as rival clubs circle

As news of Australia’s Super Rugby woes spread, European clubs start the hunt for the Wallabies’ best talent.

Jessica Halloran

CommentaryCommentary

This combination of photos provided by Boston University shows sections from a normal brain, top, and from the brain of former University of Texas football player Greg Ploetz, bottom, in stage IV of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. According to a report released on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 by the Journal of the American Medical Association, research on the brains of 202 former football players has confirmed what many feared in life _ evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a devastating disease in nearly all the samples, from athletes in the NFL, college and even high school. Picture:LiveScience

Wasted chance to lead the way in looking after kids

The major collision codes should sign up to the latest advice from the AIS that young players should be rested for at least 21 days after a concussion.

Jessica Halloran

ANALYSISRugby Union

Rebels woes reflect grassroots problems

Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh moved to assure the franchise’s existence in the 2024 season but the game is under pressure on a number of fronts.

Jessica Halloran

CricketCricket

25/1/2024Christina Matthews at the WACA to celebrate her Australia Day honoursPic Colin Murty

Cricket giants with runs on the board

Two former Australian cricketers have been acknowledged for their services to the game on and off the field in the Australian Day honours.

Jessica Halloran

ExclusiveRugby Union

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: RA CEO Phil Waugh speaks to media during a Rugby Australia media opportunity at Allianz Stadium on January 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia backs Rebels as club sinks in debt

Rugby Australia chief Phil Waugh says they are ‘committed to the Melbourne Rebels for the 2024 season as the Super Rugby franchise slips into voluntary administration.

John Stensholt and Jessica Halloran

EXCLUSIVERugby Union

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters warms up before the NRL Elimination Final match between Cronulla Sharks and Sydney Roosters at PointsBet Stadium on September 09, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Paying rugby kids the school of thought

A new survey of Australian rugby union fans say school-aged talent should be paid to stave off the threat of the NRL.

Jessica Halloran

Rugby Union

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 19: New Wallabies Head Coach Joe Schmidt poses with RA CEO Phil Waugh and RA Director of High-Performance Peter Horne during a Rugby Australia media opportunity at Allianz Stadium on January 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Brand new fears if RA’s debts deepen

The Wallabies brand has been used as collateral for a loan while Springboks and All Blacks conspire to isolate Rugby Australia.

Jessica Halloran

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/jessica-halloran/page/14