The melbourne Rebels’ bid to be part of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition is over, with the franchise to play their last game of Super Rugby next month.
In administration since January and owing in excess of $23 million, Rugby Australia has footed the bill for player and staff wages since, while also taking back the club’s licence.
A brief flicker of hope with a consortium led by the former chairman of Qantas presenting a plan to fund the club – should the licence be handed back – was extinguished on May 30 when RA elected not to support the plan.
After 14 seasons, the Melbourne Rebels will be no more.
How did we get here? The Sporting News explains.
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What happened to the Melbourne Rebels? Why Super Rugby team entered administration
The Rebels went into administration in January, with their debts totalling AU$23.1 million, per ABC.
PwC voluntary administrator Stephen Longley stated in his report that the club may have been insolvent for more than five years.
Once they entered administration, Rugby Australia (RA) took over the Rebels’ competition licence, and agreed to…
