Melbourne Rebels #REBvWAR Official Program by MelbourneRebels

OFFICIAL PROGRAM #REBvWAR

MELBOURNE REBELS V

NSW WARATAHS 7:45PM FRIDAY 24 MARCH AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE

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WELCOME REBELS V WARATAHS FRI 24 MAR PROGRAM CONTENTS Welcome 1 Chibba Story

U20s Story

Meet #OurRebels

Team Lists

Week by Week

Training Gallery

Dewar Shield

Rebels U20s Draw

Sponsors 26

Tonight the Melbourne Rebels are stepping out onto AAMI Park for the 50th time. We are fortunate enough to live in one of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most liveable cities, as passionate fans from all parts of the world who love our team and our great game. Right now, we need you to stand with us and show your solidarity and commitment to keeping rugby strong and successful in Victoria as we take on the might of New South Wales rugby The Waratahs. This is more than Melbourne V Sydney; this is more than Round 5; this is all about us standing up as the Rebel Army for 130 years of Victorian rugby history and those that have fought hard on and off the field for our great game in this great state.

We need you to get behind the team that represents Victoria, your Melbourne Rebels. We have a passionate organisation and team who are all committed to success, and who have fought hard over the years for our club to be established here and to ultimately achieve success. We need you to stand up with us tonight for Melbourne Rugby, for Victorian Rugby and for Australian Rugby. In 2011 a Rebellion in Australian Rugby started and now we need you more than ever to stand strong in unconditional solidarity with The Rebels. Our strength. Our Pride. Our Passion. Our Melbourne Rebels.

Design & Pre-Press Daniel McEvoy, Lizzie Jackson, Ayden Hurst Content Creation Chris Gottaas, Fraser Stewart Images Getty Images, Mike Baker, Dave Callow, Michael Rummery, Andrew Stevenson

FEATURE STORY

CHIBBA PUTS TEAM BEFORE MILESTONE WORDS BY FRASER STEWART

Rebels hooker James Hanson has put his personal Super Rugby milestone on ice until after Friday night’s game against the NSW Waratahs at AAMI Park.

“It’s a big occasion, obviously a personal milestone, but for me and what we’ve talked about during the week is the team’s performance on the weekend.” Hanson said.

Buoyed by a spirited performance against the Vodafone Super Rugby league leading Chiefs last weekend, the Rebels will front up for their first Australian derby of the season.

“Friday night’s game against the Waratahs is probably more important at this stage of the season so I think the milestone will be something that I’ll reflect on after the game.”

Hanson will celebrate his 100th Super Rugby game but insists that the team’s focus this week has been on the team’s performance.

After a disappointing opening two weeks of the season which included defeats to the Blues and Hurricanes, the Rebels bounced

back last week to push the Chiefs for 75 minutes only to fall just short. Hanson believes that the team has learnt some good lessons from the start of the season to take into their remaining games. “We did take a lot out of the game against the Chiefs obviously it’s very disappointing that we couldn’t finish off the job,” Hanson said. “I think we’ve learned a huge amount off the first two weeks being on the other side of a few hidings.” “If we can take those learnings, along with confidence from the way that we started against the Chiefs, hopefully we can go well with a complete 80-minute performance.” The Rebels will defend the Weary Dunlop Shield after they reclaimed the perpetual trophy with a history maiden victory over the Waratahs in Sydney last season. The Rebels are eager to build on their performance against their local rivals. “These sorts of derby matches are the ones you look forward to,” Hanson said. “You always love playing the Waratahs and I think everyone is looking forward to it.”

“It’s a big occasion, obviously a personal milestone, but for me and what we’ve talked about during the week is the team’s performance on the weekend.” Reflecting back on his first 100 games, Hanson highlighted his debut and 2011 Super Rugby triumph with the Queensland Reds as his best memories from the seven-year career. “For me the 2011 championship was obviously a highlight there, it was a great moment for Australian Rugby,” Hanson said. “I think obviously getting your first games for Queensland, first games for Melbourne and first games for Australia they’re all big achievements.”

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STORY

DECIDER ON THE LINE A berth in the 2017 Super U20s Championship Grand Final will be on the line when the Melbourne Rebels U20s host NSW Gen Blues in the curtain raiser at AAMI Park on Friday afternoon.

“This competition demands your very best every single week so we’ll need nothing less than a complete performance against a hungry NSW Gen Blue side determined to avenge last weekend’s defeat.”

With just two points separating the second placed Gen Blues and third placed Rebels U20s on the ladder, the winner of the final round clash will secure a spot in next weekend’s decider.

After dropping their first game of the season away from home in a grand final rematch against the Queensland Reds U20s, the Rebels rebounded strongly to record consecutive victories to move into the top four.

“Finals have come a week early for both sides but these are the games you want to play in so it’s exciting for all the players, coaches and staff involved,” Melbourne Rebels U20s head coach Craig McGrath said.

The Rebels U20s regrouped for a gutsy victory over the Brumbies Colts on the road before they returned home to down the Western Force U20s by 31 points on Gosch’s Paddock to set up the show down on Friday night.

“It’s been pleasing to see the incredible growth and development of the playing squad over the course of the season,” McGrath said.

The Rebels U20s claimed victory in the only previous meeting between the two sides with a 39-26 win at Sydney University in Round 4 last year.

“It’s a real credit to the talented group of hard working staff, including assistant coaches Pom (Simona) and Eoin (Toolan) in attack, Nic (Henderson) with the forwards and fitness from Conor (Daly).”

The Rebels U20s received a boost on the eve of the final round with nine players included in the Australian U20s Extended Squad ahead of the 2017 World Rugby U20s Championship in Georgia.

NSW Gen Blue, coached by Former Waratah Matt Bowman and former Joeys mentor Greg Thompson, started their seasons with victories over the Western Force U20s and Brumbies Colts before going down to the Reds U20s last weekend.

The 48-player preliminary squad, announced by the ARU this week, will come together at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast following the grand final for their first training camp under new Head Coach Simon Cron.

MEET #OURREBELS The extended playing squad to battle it out for Super Rugby glory

For more info on #OurRebels head to

melbournerebels.com

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7:45PM FRIDAY 24 MARCH AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE REBELS 1

Fereti Sa’aga

James Hanson

Laurie Weeks

Culum Retallick

Steve Cummins

Jordy Reid

Colby Fainga’a

Amanaki Mafi

Nic Stirzaker

Jackson Garden-Bachop

Marika Koroibete

Reece Hodge

Tom English

Sefa Naivalu

Jack Debreczeni

KEEP SCORE TRIES PENALTY GOALS CONVERSIONS DROP GOALS TURNOVERS

LINEBREAKS

TOTAL

KEEP AN EYE ON... JORDY REID

THE BENCH Pat Leafa Tom Moloney Tyrel Lomax Dominic Day Lopeti Timani Jake Schatz Ben Meehan Mitch Inman Ben Volavola

OFF-FIELD TEAM Head Coach: Tony McGahan Asst. Coaches: Zane Hilton, Craig McGrath, Morgan Turinui Ath Performance: Damian Mednis S&C: Shane Lehane, Brendan Whelan Team Manager: Mark Rowe Analysts: Eoin Toolan, John Batina Doctor: Dr. Asheer Singh Asst Manager: Chris Thomson Head Physio: Cullan Ball Rehab: Nick Court GM Rugby: Baden Stephenson

TEAM LISTS

KEEP AN EYE ON... MICHAEL HOOPER

THE BENCH 16. Damien Fitzpatrick 17. Paddy Ryan 18. David Lolohea 19. David McDuling 20. Michael Wells 21. Nick Phipps 22. Cam Clark 23. Taqele Naiyaravoro

OFF-FIELD TEAM Head Coach: Daryl Gibson Asst. Coaches: Nathan Grey Chris Malone Cam Blades Logistics Manager: Sam Cashman High Performance Analyst: Anthony Wakeling S&C: Jordan Troester Physiotherapist: Alex Hill

NSW WARATAHS 1

Tom Robertson

Tolu Latu

Sekope Kepu

Dean Mumm

Will Skelton

Ned Hanigan

Michael Hooper

Jed Holloway

Jake Gordon

Bernard Foley

Andrew Kellaway

David Horwitz

Rob Horne

Reece Robinson

Israel Folau

KEEP SCORE

TOTAL

TRIES PENALTY GOALS CONVERSIONS DROP GOALS TURNOVERS LINEBREAKS

2017 AWAY JERSEY ROUND 5 SPECIAL

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Grab your Official 2017 Rebels Kit from Merchandise Outlets:

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WEEK BY WEEK

UPCOMING 2017 MATCHES

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field performance

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2017 DEWAR SHIELD DRAW

V1 as at 23 Nov

Round 1 Moorabbin v Endeavour Hills v Footscray v Souths v Melbourne Uni v

25 March Power House Box Hill Melbourne Harlequins Bye

Round 10 Power House Box Hill Melbourne Harlequins Bye

Round 2 Melbourne Footscray Box Hill Souths Power House

1 April Endeavour Hills Harlequins Melbourne Uni Moorabbin Bye

Round 11 Endeavour Hills v Harlequins v Melbourne Uni v Moorabbin v Power House v

10 June Melbourne Footscray Box Hill Souths Bye

Round 3 Harlequins v Endeavour Hills v Moorabbin v Melbourne Uni v Box hill v

8 April Power House Souths Footscray Melbourne Bye

Round 12 Power House Souths Footscray Melbourne Bye

v v v v v

17 June Harlequins Endeavour Hills Moorabbin Melbourne Uni Box hill

Round 4 Souths v Melbourne v Box Hill v Footscray v Endeavour Hills v

22 April Melbourne Uni Moorabbin Harlequins Power House Bye

Round 13 Melbourne Uni Moorabbin Harlequins Power House Bye

v v v v v

24 June Souths Melbourne Box Hill Footscray Endeavour Hills

Round 5 Power House Harlequins Melbourne Uni Melbourne Bye

v v v v v

29 April Souths Moorabbin Endeavour Hills Box Hill Footscray

Round 14 Souths v Moorabbin v Endeavour Hills v Box Hill v Footscray v

1 July Power House Harlequins Melbourne Uni Melbourne Bye

Round 6 Harlequins v Moorabbin v Endeavour Hills v Box Hill v Souths v

6 May Melbourne Melbourne Uni Power House Footscray Bye

Round 15 Melbourne Melbourne Uni Power House Footscray Bye

8 July Harlequins Moorabbin Endeavour Hills Box Hill Souths

v v v v

v v v v v

3 June Moorabbin Endeavour Hills Footscray Souths Melbourne Uni

13 May Endeavour Hills Box Hill Footscray Melbourne Bye

Round 16 Endeavour Hills v Box Hill v Footscray v Melbourne v Bye v

15 July Moorabbin Power House Melbourne Uni Souths Harlequins

Round 8 Footscray v Box Hill v Power House v Endeavour Hills v Melbourne v

20 May Souths Moorabbin Melbourne Uni Harlequins Bye

Round 17 Souths Moorabbin Melbourne Uni Harlequins Bye

Round 9 Souths Melbourne Melbourne Uni Footscray Moorabbin

27 May Box Hill Power House Harlequins Endeavour Hills Bye

Round 7 Moorabbin Power House Melbourne Uni Souths Harlequins

v v v v v

Finals

P1, P2, P3 - Four Team Playoff 5 August - Semi Finals SF 1 - Team 1 v Team 2 SF 2 - Team 3 v Team 4 12 August - Preliminary Final Loser SF 1 v Winner SF 2 19 August â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grand Final Winner SF1 v Winner PF Game Management Match Starting Times: Dewar Shield 3:10pm Premier 2 1:30pm Colts 12.00pm Premier 3 12:00pm (Field 2) Women 1.30pm (Field 2) Premier 4 3:00pm (Field 2) Match Duration Premier 1 & 2 Premier 3 & 4

Halves 40 Min 35 Min

Stoppage Time Yes Yes

Season Break : Easter (15 April) Melbourne Rebels Fixture Red denotes home match Opposition

Time (local)

Thus 23 Feb

Blues

19:30

Sun 4 Mar

Hurricanes

15:15

RND

Date

1 2

ROUND 3 BYE 4

Fri 17 Mar

Chiefs

17:30

Fri 24 Mar

Waratahs

19:30

Fri 31 Mar

Highlanders

17:35

ROUND 7 BYE 8

Sat15 April

Brumbies

19:30

Sun 23 Apr

Sharks

3.30

Sun 30 Apr

Kings

3.30

Sat 6 May

Lions

15:00

v v v v v

22 July Footscray Box Hill Power House Endeavour Hills Melbourne

Round 18 Box Hill v Power House v Harlequins v Endeavour Hills v Bye v

29 July Souths Melbourne Melbourne Uni Footscray Moorabbin

Sat 13 May

Reds