For Melbourne Rebels players, their future, and the wider prosperity of Australian rugby, now depends on them being picked up by Australia’s other Super Rugby teams. Having lost their quarter-final on Saturday – a 47-20 defeat to the ladder-leading Hurricanes – the Rebels’ 14-year life as a franchise is now officially over. Players from the debt-laden club, which went into administration in January owing almost $23m, are now working with Rugby Australia to find new clubs for the 2025 season.
It’s a reality that left Rebels players in tears after Saturday’s game. Their season had begun – a small miracle in itself given the debuts announced the month prior – with a 30-3 loss to the ACT Brumbies, a demolition that could have killed them there and then. Instead, having been branded “soft” by former Wallaby Tim Horan, they ran out the next week and launched one of the greatest comebacks in the team’s history, coming from 34-19 down against the Western Force to win 48-34.
