‘It’s like they’re oblivious’: The fight to save a struggling sport in Victoria
By Roy Ward
As a symbol of rugby union’s status in Victoria, the half-built centre of excellence tells the story.
Three pristine fields based at LaTrobe University’s sports precinct will be ready for use later this year. But Rugby Victoria will need to erect temporary change rooms and toilets to make it usable because, with a $20 million funding shortfall, the administration centre is unfinished, a cement husk.
Rugby Victoria CEO Aaron Bailey at the sport’s unfinished centre of excellence in Bundoora.Credit: Eddie Jim
The centre was meant to house Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels, as well as Rugby Victoria.
But the Rebels – who had major financial issues, a small fan base and few supporters left at Rugby Australia – no longer exist.
They had their issues, but the Rebels developed a host of young Victorians and gave local clubs a path to the professional game.
Victoria has punched above its weight for decades; according to Rugby Victoria, 39 current professional players were raised in the state. Rob Valetini, Harry Potter and Sione Tuipulotu (Lions) were the Victorians pushing for selection for Saturday night’s second Test between the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions at the MCG in front of 90,000 fans. Two Victorians are in the Wallaroos squad ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in late August.
Rugby Victoria’s centre of excellence in Bundoora.Credit: Eddie Jim
But a year on from the Rebels’ demise, and with an energised rugby league adding clubs in the talent-rich outer suburbs, those who love “the game played in Heaven” despair about its future.
“Our club has produced two Wallabies, two Wallaroos and two Australian sevens players plus a host of professional players,” Northern Panthers president Grant Wason said.
“But the next generation of players will likely be in the NRL because Rugby Australia has dropped the ball.
“It’s like they’re oblivious to where the talent is coming from.”
Rugby Australia says competition for players is intense nationwide, and rejects claims it dropped the ball.
Dan Sheehan of British and Irish Lions goes over to score his team’s 3rd try despite the efforts of Harry Potter of Australia.Credit: Getty Images
“Rugby Australia also recently launched the Australian Schools and Junior Rugby Union Championships at under 16 and under 18 level, which provided a strong platform for the best players from every state and territory to perform on the national stages,” an RA spokesperson said.
“Several Victorian players from the tournament have been invited into the pathway programs of Super Rugby clubs.”
But Harlequin Rugby Club president Brock Parker, who has been involved in the game for more than 30 years, says talented young players are crossing the border.
The talent drain
Parker has already seen eight to 10 teenagers from Quins move interstate in the past year, at great expense for the players and their families and stripping talent from the local Dewar Shield competition.
“The biggest effect of the demise of the Rebels has been the talent drain, a lot of the talented 18-year-olds have headed north,” Parker said.
“At our club, we’ve lost eight to 10 players aged 18 or 19 who have gone to play club rugby in Canberra or Sydney or elsewhere because there is no pathway here. Many of them see it as a possible profession for their future.”
Melbourne Rebels players Amanaki Mafi, Tetera Faulkner, Fereti Sa’aga, Rob Leota, Jordan Uelese, Sione Tuipolotu and Sefa Naivalu at a sponsorship announcement in 2018.Credit: Eddie Jim
Wason said his club doesn’t have a senior men’s side at present and noted there are multiple rugby league clubs in their catchment area between Preston out to Doreen and Mernda.
“I know a lot of the families who are now running around at rugby league clubs who were our players,” Wason said.
“Now there’s no obvious pathway into professional rugby in Victoria, there’s more of an inclination to go down to the local league club than it is to drive to Reservoir – from the northern outskirts it’s a 40-minute drive in peak hour traffic.”
Rob Leota of the Rebels scores a try that was later disallowed during the round one Super Rugby Pacific match against the Brumbies in 2024.Credit: Getty Images
The Panthers now train at Mernda once a week.
“If we hadn’t done that [the Mernda sessions], then we would have struggled with juniors but we’ve managed to get teams together,” Wason said.
Both Parker and Wason say talented players from New Zealand and the Pacific Islands have stopped moving to Melbourne clubs.
Players such as Sefa Naivalu arrived in Melbourne from Fiji and within a year went from Box Hill to the Rebels.
He went on to play for the Wallabies and is still playing professionally.
“You don’t see those players at all – they’ve totally gone,” Wason lamented.
The Melbourne poster boy
Former Rebels captain Rob Leota admits it still hurts to know his club is gone.
He did his best to show love to his home city as a part of the First Nations and Pasifika team that almost upset the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday night.
Originally meant to be a clash between the Rebels and the Lions, Rugby Australia created the concept of the First Nations and Pasifika team to fill the void.
Rob Leota (blonde hair) of the First Nations & Pasifika celebrates after scoring a try.Credit: Getty Images
Leota made the sign of an “M” with his fingers then did a cultural dance after scoring a late try in front of the 30,000-strong crowd. His emotions are still raw.
He played for NSW Waratahs this year. Next season, Leota will move to France.
“I moved out of my comfort zone. It’s the first time living away from home after being in Melbourne my whole life. I felt like a 12-year-old leaving my parents and living by myself with my girlfriend in Sydney,” Leota said.
“As hard as it was to leave the Rebels and see them gone, all I can hope is that we get a team back in Melbourne for these young kids to keep aspiring to keep playing rugby and one day play for the Wallabies.”
Wallabies players Rob Leota and Rob Valetini at Optus Stadium in Perth in 2022.Credit: Karen Watson/Rugby Australia
Wallaroos exodus
The Rebels women were also dropped from the Super W competition at the end of last season. It has left a huge hole.
Ashley Marsters of Australia scores one of her two tries against the USA in May.Credit: Getty Images
Wallaroos games record holder Ashley Marsters is a proud from Victorian and so is lock Tiarah Minns. But they had to join Western Force and Queensland Reds for this year’s Super W.
“The unspoken impact has been on the pathway for our women,” Rugby Victoria CEO Aaron Bailey said.
But he is buoyed by some interest the ACT Brumbies have shown in signing some young Victorian women after the recent national titles.
A partnership with the Brumbies makes sense, according to Harlequins president Parker. They are closer than WA or NSW and the ACT has a smaller local playing base.
Reigning John Eales medallist Valetini grew up in Victoria but became a star with the Brumbies as did former Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano.
“We’ve got to buddy up with the Brumbies,” Parker said.
“They started running coaching clinics and setting that up in the early 2000s. They really ingrained themselves in our community.
“But I fear they don’t want to do that now because they are scared that somewhere down the line they will be forced to move to Melbourne.”
Rob Valentini playing for the ACT Brumbies this past season.Credit: Getty Images
Bailey and Rugby Victoria have put a focus on helping clubs improve their elite development, and they aim to form local representative squads for the north, south, east and west where the elite juniors train together, such as the AFL’s Coates Talent League.
Battle of the codes
Just as the Rebels were fading away, the NRL’s Melbourne Storm pivoted towards boosting their local player ranks.
Wason saw winger Young Tonumaipea leave the Panthers to chase a successful career with the Storm and now he’s seeing scores of former union families join one of several NRL junior clubs in his area.
One of Wason’s prize photos is of Leota and Leali’ifano holding a Panthers jersey. Now he can’t be sure his club will produce another Wallaby.
Bailey said Rugby Victoria had to keep promoting the success of its players.
“We need to articulate to our parents and players that union is a pathway. There’s far more Victorians playing union professionally than in league, but we’ve got to continue to tell that story.”
Melbourne Storm’s Young Tonumaipea runs at Junior Paulo in 2023.Credit: Getty Images
The future
Rugby Victoria hopes the fields at the centre of excellence will be functional by October or November and that talks with Sport and Recreation Victoria, La Trobe University and the state government will lead to the building being finished.
RV sees that venue as vital for hosting future events and attracting more international matches.
“Without a professional team, we have to work out the best use of that facility,” chief executive Aaron Bailey said.
“For the people who play and love rugby, they are seeking clarity on what the game looks like in Victoria.”
The state government contributed $31.870 million to the centre, and sports funding is scarce due to its budget struggles.
“Significant works have already been completed following our investment with all three rugby pitches being laid, helping fulfil the high demand for rugby pitches in metropolitan Melbourne,” a government spokesperson said.
Rugby Australia said it would work with RV and the state government on finishing the centre, which Parker says is critical.
“Now we’ve got to get the bloody thing finished,” Parker said.
Leota offers encouragement to young Victorians who had to leave.
“It’s unfortunate to see but all you can say to those kids is that if you really want to aspire to play, then you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Leota said. “Continue to work hard and no matter where you go, never be ashamed to be from Melbourne, even though there is no team here.”