‘Rugby isn’t dead in Melbourne’: Rebels captain aiming for statement season despite club’s struggles

Melbourne Rebels captain and Wallaby Rob Leota is focused on leading the club to its best Super Rugby season yet despite entering voluntary administration.

“I think it just gives us more of a purpose to go out this year and really make our fans and our state and, obviously, all of Melbourne proud,” Leota said. “Once we start round one, we want to show that rugby is not dead in Melbourne, and the best way to do that is to play good rugby.”

Rebels players training at Gosch’s Paddock last week.Credit: Eddie Jim

The Rebels start their season on February 23 with a clash against the Brumbies at AAMI Park.

Leota joined the club’s academy at 14 years old and credits the club with helping him reach his potential, providing a pathway that wasn’t there for his predecessors on junior Victoria representative teams who had to move interstate to fulfil their dreams in the game.

“I think the biggest thing, especially if you’re from Victoria, you understand, growing up in these [Rebels] pathways, you don’t take anything for granted,” Leota said. “That’s just how we’ve always played our rugby. Obviously, especially [with Melbourne] being so AFL-dominated, having the Rebels was about so much more than just rugby.

“I think the people that came before us who are lot older now in Victoria didn’t have the opportunity to have that pathway [at the Rebels] that we’re living in right now. A lot of the Victorian [rugby] community are very passionate and understands that, and obviously that’s why they want us to win. I think it’s just given us a greater purpose.”

Melbourne Rebels captain Rob Leota.Credit: Getty

Last year, the Melbourne born and bred breakaway became the first Victorian to captain the Super Rugby club in its 13-year history. A key part of his decision to lead the side was to give young Victorians a role model.

“For younger kids in Melbourne, being able to look and see one of their own captaining the Rebels, then they can see themselves when they see me and they know you can dream as big as you want,” Leota said.

“I don’t take that lightly because it’s very proud for me to see younger Victorians coming through the pathways, and there are guys of 19 and 20 that are coming through now who are just like me when I came in.

“It’s awesome to be able to see younger players keep coming through, there are even guys that are starting rugby now that are six, seven and eight years old [in Victoria] that are going to continue playing.”

Rugby Australia and Rebels bosses assured fans the embattled club will take the field this season – but both fell short of making solid commitments beyond 2024.

RA chief executive Phil Waugh and Rebels counterpart Baden Stephenson confirmed in a statement on Tuesday the Super Rugby club had entered voluntary administration.

Speaking to this masthead, Waugh said RA will work closely with the Melbourne club to explore all options during the voluntary administration period.

“We will be working closely with the Rebels’ administrator PwC, and with our advisors Deloitte, to have really constructive conversations to ensure we deliver 2024 as effectively and as efficiently as we can,” Waugh said. “And then looking forward, we will work diligently to explore what’s the most appropriate structure into 2025 and beyond [for the Rebels]”

RA will pay staff and players this season and the club’s licence will be transferred to the governing body. The club is millions of dollars in debt.

The timeline of the voluntary administration process is uncertain, with both the Rebels and RA remaining in limbo until PwC conducts its full process and report.

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh.Credit: Getty

In the statement released on Tuesday, Waugh said: “RA is committed to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels play in the 2024 Super Rugby competitions, and we will support their preparation for the new season.”

In a separate statement emailed by the Rebels to fans, shortly before RA’s statement, Waugh expressed regret at the situation.

“We are sad to see the Melbourne Rebels fall into administration under its current owner, Rugby Victoria,” Waugh said.

“RA is committed to ensuring the Melbourne Rebels play in the 2024 Super Rugby competitions and, as such, we have assumed responsibility for payment to players and staff as we support their preparation for the new season.”

Stephenson did not make any long-term commitments in his statement.

“Our focus as an organisation is to ensure we can deliver the 2024 season, perform well in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s competitions, and to position our club in the best possible way for the future,” he said.

Although the Rebels’ future is uncertain, they remain officially penciled in as part of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, with a fixture on July 22 at Marvel Stadium.

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