Rugby Australia is working with the debt-ridden melbourne Rebels to ensure they field a team in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition but has offered no guarantees beyond that.
Key points:
- Embattled Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels have entered voluntary administration just a month before the season kicks off
- The Rebels are believed to be $9 million in debt
- Rugby Australia will ensure the club plays through the 2024 campaign but their survival beyond that is up in the air
Melbourne formally entered voluntary administration on Monday night, with the season set to get underway in less than a month.
The national governing body said it remains committed to rugby in Victoria but offered no clues about how that may look.
In a statement, Rugby Australia (RA) said it will focus on a “viable professional rugby footprint in Melbourne that can be sustainable and commercially successful in the future”.
RA boss Phil Waugh said head office will work with the appointed administrator to ensure Melbourne teams play in this year’s men’s and women’s Super Rugby competitions.
“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,” Waugh said in a…
