OFFICIAL PROGRAM #REBvBRU
MELBOURNE REBELS V
BRUMBIES 7:40PM FRIDAY 9 MARCH AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE
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WELCOME
It’s an exciting month for Rebels and Victorian rugby. A new era for the Melbourne Rebels is well underway and a new dawn for Victorian women’s rugby is set to kick-off this weekend with the inaugural Buildcorp Super W.
REBELS V BRUMBIES FRIDAY 9 MARCH PROGRAM CONTENTS Welcome 3 Feature Story
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Super W News
6
Rygby Vic
8
2018 Rebels Squad
10
Team Lineup
14
2018 Fixture
17
Captain English
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Rebels Merchandise Next Home Game
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Sponsors 22 Rebels Alumni
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Fans will be seeing double in March with the Rebels and Rebels Women in action together in national competition for the first time in the club’s history. The Rebels returned home from a successful trip to Tokyo to host the reigning Australian Conference champions, the Brumbies, back at The Stockade tonight. Along with retaining the Ganbatte Trophy, our Rebels made club history with a second straight win to start the season for the first time. These milestones, while small in the bigger context, are important to the fabric of our organisation and help to rewrite our club’s story as we set about establishing a new culture on and off the field. Off the field, the trip to Tokyo provided the club with a unique opportunity to visit key partners in Japan and spend quality time with others. A huge thank you must go to Massey Ferguson, ICS, Yakult, Fuso & Julius Marlow for their
Design & Pre-Press Sarah Fulham Content Creation Chris Gottaas Brynn O’Connor Images Getty Images, Mike Baker, Dave Callow, Michael Rummery, Andrew Stevenson
outstanding support of the team and the Club. We were thrilled to be joined by the Victorian Minister for Sport, the Hon. John Eren MP, in Tokyo for formal functions with the Australian Embassy and as a vocal member of the Rebel Army on game-day against the Sunwolves. We are extremely fortunate to have such loyal, passionate and committed support from the Victorian Government on our exciting new journey. Our members and supporters who travelled to Japan approached the tour with as much gusto as the players did on the field. Loud and proud, the Rebel Army made their presence felt. It was a pleasure to share the experience. I would like to extend my best wishes to Rebels Women Head Coach Alana Thomas and captain Jayne Kareroa for their inaugural Buildcorp Super W campaign. Special mention to Rebels favorite son Tom English who takes the Captaincy duty this evening, I know he will be honoured to lead the team and will do us proud. Go Rebels! Baden Stephenson, CEO Melbourne Rebels
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FEATURE STORY
NO SHORTAGE OF MOTIVATION FOR REBELS
Melbourne Rebels coach David Wessels says his team doesn’t need any extra motivation heading into tonight’s blockbuster derby match against the ACT Brumbies. Sitting on top of the Australian Conference and second in the Super Rugby standings with 10 points, a win against the Brumbies would mark a club first of three consecutive wins. While Wessels said rewriting club history was important in this new era, it was not something that
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would add fuel to an already fired up Rebels outfit. “Little milestones like that are important, but to be honest, when you are playing in a derby game, those sort of things don’t add anymore motivation than the players already have,” Wessels said. “I think for us, little milestones like that are great. They’re part of our story and that’s what we are trying to do with the club.
“We said from day one that the club feels a little bit like a start up and what we want to do is start building it as our story and start maturing it. “We are excited to be playing at the stockade in front of our fans.” Standing between the Rebels and a club record three consecutive wins is a Brumbies side that has set the benchmark for Australian rugby and a team where Wessels got his start in his Australian coaching career. Wessels was recruited by former Brumbies coach and compatriot Jake White to join the club as a defence consultant in 2012. Wessels was pragmatic about his side’s start to the season as the Rebels look to continue to build as a team week to week.
Wessels said the return of Koroibete and Hardwick and the competition for spots was a positive nod towards the Rebels’ growing list depth and ability to comfortably cover any spots in the backs. “I think we’ve got a lot of versatility in our backs,” Wessels said. “I mean a guy like Reece Hodge can play in the back three, Tom English can play in the back three, Billy Meakes somewhere in the team gives us that flexibility whether that is starting or on the bench. “I think one of the nice things about our teams is that we have some coverage in those sort of roles.”
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but all I’m thinking about this week is playing the Brumbies,” Wessels said. “I think if we can play well against the Brumbies and improve our game the next week, then we can keep building. “Super Rugby isn’t won in round three, Super Rugby is won in July, so by then we’ve got to be hitting our straps.” One of the challenges Wessels faced leading into the clash with the Brumbies, was the welcome selection headaches caused by the return of Marika Koroibete, Ben Daley and Richard Hardwick.
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An exciting new era for women’s rugby in Victoria looms with the inaugural Buildcorp Super W competition, which kicks-off this weekend. The Rebels Women will travel to Perth on Saturday morning ahead of their historic season opener against the Western Force Women at Cottesloe Rugby Club on Sunday afternoon from 6pm (AEDT). The Rebels Women inaugural coach Alana Thomas said she was overjoyed to be apart of history. “It’s really exciting, it’s been crazy since it was announced,” Thomas said. “In December when we first started training…we had 12 girls turn up and then after the announcement we had 40 girls turn up. “We were just watching all these girls rock up into the gym and wondering where they all come from? We don’t have enough room in here in the gym. “That’s been exciting and just seeing all the different girls and all the new young girls as well.” Thomas said that the team will use their first game against the Western Force in Perth, which comes just days after International Women’s Day, as a bonding experience to bring the players and coaching staff together. “Going over to Perth will benefit us with the flight over and coming together as a group of twenty-three players and really having a good crack on the field,” Thomas said. “It’s a really exciting young group of players who’ll grow and develop over the
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course of this season and grow into next season.” With the growth of women’s sport in Australia and the rise of several successful domestic competitions, including Super Netball and AFL W, Thomas said that Super W will help continue to grow women’s rugby participation in Victoria. “We took up 39 girls to the Brumbies trial, some of those girls hadn’t played anything other than club rugby here in Victoria,” Thomas said. “They actually commented when we had discussions (and they said) the style of rugby is quicker, it’s harder (and) it’s faster. “We know the level we have to be at to compete at a national level so Super W will help boost Victoria’s (club) competition which will help the Rebels Women in the long-term.” Thomas expects the new Super W competition will surprise local fans. “There’s going to be a lot of people watching women’s rugby that are going to be intrigued and appreciate the skills,” Thomas said. “It’s not like the men, our players don’t have the same tactical kicking strength so they play more running rugby. “It’s a lot more entertaining brand of rugby to watch.”
STORY
HISTORIC SUPER W IS HERE
Melbourne Rebels Women 2018 Buildcorp Super W draw Round 1 Sunday 11 March v Western Force Women, Perth, 3.00pm Round 2 Bye Round 3 Sunday 25 March v Queensland Women, Brisbane, 1.30pm Round 4 Friday 30 March v Brumbies Women, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 5.00pm Round 5 Saturday 7 April v NSW Women, Box Hill Rugby Club, Melbourne, 3.00pm
*All times local.
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Do YOU want to play Rugby in 2018? No matter your size, gender, age or physical capability, there is a team for you! Rugby Union is a game for all. Join your local club today and be a part of the exciting 2018 season! Find your local club at: www.rugbyvic.com.au #AGameForAll
MEET YOUR 2018 REBELS The extended playing squad to battle it out for Super Rugby glory.
ADAM
AMANAKI
ANARU
ANGUS
POSITION LOCK
POSITION BACK ROW
POSITION HOOKER
POSITION FLANKER
AGE 26
AGE 28
AGE 29
AGE 28
HEIGHT 2.04M
HEIGHT 1.89M
HEIGHT 1.81M
HEIGHT 1.91M
WEIGHT 122KG
WEIGHT 112KG
WEIGHT 113KG
WEIGHT 111KG
COLEMAN
MAFI
RANGI
COTTRELL
BEN
BILLY
COLBY
POSITION PROP
POSITION CENTRE
POSITION FLANKER
AGE 29
AGE 27
AGE 26
AGE 28
HEIGHT 1.84M
HEIGHT 1.88M
HEIGHT 1.83M
HEIGHT 1.90M
WEIGHT 111KG
WEIGHT 100KG
WEIGHT 101KG
WEIGHT 100KG
DALEY
MEAKES
FAINGA’A
DANE
HAYLETT-PETTY POSITION FULLBACK
DAVID
DOM
ESEI
FERETI
POSITION CENTRE
POSITION WING
POSITION LOCK
POSITION PROP
AGE 23
AGE 27
AGE 18
AGE 23
HEIGHT 1.83M
HEIGHT 1.86M
HEIGHT 1.98M
WEIGHT 94KG
WEIGHT 94KG
WEIGHT 118KG
GEOFF
HARRISON
HENRY
HUNTER
POSITION LOCK
POSITION SCRUMHALF
POSITION WING
POSITION WING
AGE 34
AGE 19
AGE 21
AGE 19
HEIGHT 1.99M
HEIGHT 1.80M
HEIGHT 1.75M
HEIGHT 1.80M
WEIGHT 117KG
WEIGHT 79KG
WEIGHT 86KG
WEIGHT 90KG
HORWITZ
PARLING
SHIPPERLEY
GODDARD
HA’ANGANA
HUTCHISON
SA’AGA
HEIGHT 1.86M WEIGHT 126KG
PAISAMI
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JACK
JERMAINE
POSITION FLYHALF
POSITION FULLBACK
POSITION FLYHALF
POSITION PROP
AGE 24
AGE 21
AGE 21
AGE 22
HEIGHT 1.92M
HEIGHT 1.94M
HEIGHT 1.78M
HEIGHT 1.80M
WEIGHT 85KG
WEIGHT 115KG
JACK
DEBRECZENI
WEIGHT 99KG
MADDOCKS
WEIGHT 90KG
MCGREGOR
AINSLEY
JORDAN
KITI
LAURIE
LOPETI
POSITION HOOKER
POSITION WING
POSITION PROP
POSITION BACK ROW
AGE 21
AGE 23
AGE 31
AGE 27
HEIGHT 1.80M
HEIGHT 1.93M
WEIGHT 115KG
WEIGHT 124KG
UELESE
HEIGHT 1.89M
RATU
HEIGHT 1.94M
WEEKS
TIMANI
WEIGHT 122KG
WEIGHT 85KG
MARIKA
MATT
MICHAEL
RURU
FOU
POSITION WING
POSITION LOCK
POSITION SCRUMHALF
POSITION WINGER
AGE 25
AGE 24
AGE 27
AGE 27
HEIGHT 1.80M
HEIGHT 1.99M
HEIGHT 1.82M
HEIGHT 1.96M
WEIGHT 93KG
WEIGHT 115KG
WEIGHT 93KG
WEIGHT 91KG
PONE
REECE
RICHARD
ROB
POSITION LOCK
POSITION CENTRE
POSITION FLANKER
POSITION BACK ROW
AGE 23
AGE 23
AGE 21
HEIGHT 1.83M
HEIGHT 1.90M
KOROIBETE
FA’AMAUSILI
AGE 20 HEIGHT 1.96M WEIGHT 138KG
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JACK
PHILIP
HODGE
HEIGHT 1.91M WEIGHT 94KG
HARDWICK
WEIGHT 103KG
PAMA
LEOTA
WEIGHT 110KG
ROSS HAYLETT-PETTY
SAM
SAM
SAMA
POSITION BACK ROW
POSITION LOCK
POSITION PROP
POSITION HOOKER
AGE 24
AGE 25
AGE 26
AGE 20
HEIGHT 2.00M
HEIGHT 1.83M
HEIGHT 1.83M
WEIGHT 117KG
WEIGHT 116KG
WEIGHT 109KG
HEIGHT 1.97M WEIGHT 118KG
JEFFRIES
TALAKAI
MALOLO
SEFA
SEMISI
SIONE
TAYLER
POSITION WING
POSITION WING
POSITION CENTRE
POSITION FLYHALF
AGE 26
AGE 18
AGE 21
AGE 24
HEIGHT 1.86M
HEIGHT 1.84M
HEIGHT 1.79M
HEIGHT 1.79M
WEIGHT 101KG
WEIGHT 94KG
WEIGHT 101KG
WEIGHT 81KG
TETERA
TOM
TOM
TREVOR
POSITION CENTRE
POSITION PROP
POSITION LOCK
AGE 27
AGE 24
AGE 18
HEIGHT 1.89M
HEIGHT 2.01M
WEIGHT 120KG
WEIGHT 110KG
NAIVALU
FAULKNER POSITION PROP AGE 29 HEIGHT 1.79M WEIGHT 117KG
WILL
GENIA POSITION SCRUMHALF AGE 30 HEIGHT 1.74M WEIGHT 82KG
TUPOU
ENGLISH
HEIGHT 1.87M WEIGHT 95KG
TUIPULOTU
MOLONEY
ADAMS
HOSEA
WANT TO FOLLOW YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER ACROSS THE 2018 SUPER RUGBY SEASON? KEEP AN EYE ON MELBOURNEREBELS.COM/TEAM/PLAYERS OR FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM @MELBOURNEREBELS
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The Wallabies Australian Rugby Team
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7.40PM FRIDAY 9 MARCH AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE
1
MELBOURNE REBELS Tetera Faulkner
2
Jordan Uelese
3
Jermaine Ainsley
4
Matt Philip
5
Ross Haylett-Petty
6
Lopeti Timani
7
Angus Cottrell
8
Amanaki Mafi
9
Will Genia
10
Jack Debreczeni
11
Sefa Naivalu
12
Reece Hodge
13
Tom English (C)
14
Jack Maddocks
15
Dane Haylett-Petty
KEEP SCORE TRIES PENALTY GOALS CONVERSIONS DROP GOALS TURNOVERS
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LINEBREAKS
TOTAL
KEEP AN EYE ON SEFA NAIVALU
RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Anaru Rangi Ben Daley Sam Talakai Colby Fainga’a Richard Hardwick Michael Ruru Billy Meakes Marika Koroibete
OFF-FIELD TEAM Head Coach: Dave Wessels Assistant Coaches: Joe Barakat, Shaun Berne, Kevin Foote Head of Performance: Will Markwick Player Development Coach: Craig McGrath Head of S&C: Shane Lehane Team Director: Tony Thorpe Logistics Manager: Mark Rowe Head Performance Analyst: Eoin Toolan Doctor: Dr. Bryn Savill Head Physio: Cullan Ball GM Rugby: Nick Ryan
TEAM LISTS
1.
QUEENSLAND BRUMBIES REDS Scott Sio
2.
Josh Mann-Rea
3.
Allan Alaalatoa
4.
Rory Arnold
5.
Sam Carter (C)
6.
Lachlan Mccaffrey
7.
Lolo Fakaosilea
8.
Isi Naisarani
9.
Joe Powell
10.
Christian Lealiifano
11.
Chance Peni
12.
Kyle Godwin
13.
Tevita Kuridrani
14.
Henry Speight
15.
Tom Banks
KEEP AN EYE ON CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO
RESERV RESERVES RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Folau Fainga’a Faalelei Sione Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin Richie Arnold Tom Cusack Matt Lucas Wharenui Hawera Andy Muirhead
OFF-FIELD TEAM Head Coach: Dan McKellar Assistant Coaches: Laurie Fisher, Peter Ryan Team Manager: Bill Swain Match Manager: Mathew Vowles Analyst: Angus Teece Ath Performance: Ben Serpell Game Operations & Liaison: Sam Irwin Doctor:Steven Freeman Head Physio: Cameron Lillicrap
KEEP SCORE
TOTAL
TRIES PENALTY GOALS CONVERSIONS DROP GOALS TURNOVERS LINEBREAKS
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THIS SEASON’S UNBEATABLE FIELD PERFORMERS
6. 7. 8. 9. 0. 1. 2.
Folau Fainga’a Faalelei Sione Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin Richie Arnold Tom Cusack Matt Lucas Wharenui Hawera
3.
Andy Muirhead
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WEEK BY WEEK UPCOMING 2018 MATCHES
STORY
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A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER
Tom English will remember his 27th birthday for the rest of his life. The Rebels stalwart will lead the Melbourne Rebels into a Vodafone Super Rugby fixture for the first time against the Brumbies at The Stockade. English will extend his leadership duties as Club Captain on the field after skipper Adam Coleman was unavailable due to sternum soreness following last weekend’s victory over the Sunwolves. No stranger to the leadership role, the 66-game Super Rugby campaigner has previous led the Melbourne Rebels in trial matches and Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). “I think being captain is a pretty special thing regardless of the sport,” English said.
“To represent your teammates and to lead them out is quite a special moment that I’m sure I’ll cherish forever.” After teammate Matt Philip’s birthday on Wednesday, English opted against a second serving of birthday cake in favour of keeping his forwards fed. “I’ve already got two cakes this week, we got one (on Wednesday) when it wasn’t my birthday and again (on Thursday),” English said. “I had to skip my cake on Thursday because I didn’t want to go heavy into the game, so I shared the cake with the boys. “The front row were hungry.”
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SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT HOME GAME
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REBELS V SHARKS
FRI 23 MARCH
7.40PM | AAMI PARK
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REBELS ALUMNI Behind the current Melbourne Rebels is a group of individuals who have contributed over the past 7 years their blood, sweat and tears for the jersey as past players and Rugby Support Staff. It’s important that we acknowledge and honour the Rebels history and those who helped pave the solid foundations for us today. Please welcome the following alumni at tonight’s game. Stirling Mortlock Nik Shetty Dave McNamara Luke Rooney Adam Freier Nic Henderson Jarrod Saffy Lachlan Mitchell Sean McMahon
Josh Philpot Dave Rundle Tim Wood Matt Cockbain James King Danny Corcoran Lyndall Down Wani Wall Peter Fairburn
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