The irony was hard to ignore.
Phil Waugh sat high in the stands, watching a perth-sevens-2024-australia-ireland-argentina-final-scores-result-reaction-highlights/2bd9fafa-aecd-4035-aed7-a35f7be7c30d” class=”sc-jhZTHU HLpoC”>sold out, dressed up HBF Park cheer Australia to two Perth Sevens finals, underlining the appetite for good rugby in the west.
At the same time he was fielding calls from concerned stakeholders in melbourne as the cash strapped Rebels fight for survival beyond 2024.
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Sam Talakai of the Rebels. Getty
The positions had been flipped in 2017 when the Force were controversially culled from Super Rugby and the Rebels dodged a bullet.
The hefty bank account of mining billionaire Andrew Forrest helped the Force return in 2020 and now it is the Rebels – reportedly $9 million in debt – on the chopping block.
The Rebels entered voluntary administration on Monday night and the continued support – or otherwise – from the Victorian government now shapes as critical to the club’s survival.
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Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh speaks to the media in…
