{"id":369083,"date":"2024-02-19T20:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T21:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=369083"},"modified":"2024-02-20T00:03:31","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T00:03:31","slug":"melbourne-plea-to-save-rebels-from-extinction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=369083","title":{"rendered":"Melbourne plea to save Rebels from extinction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rebels coach Kevin Foote has urged the Melbourne public to vote with their feet – and wallets – in a desperate bid to save the cash strapped club<\/a> from extinction.<\/p>\n

The Rebels are staring at the same grisly fate \ufeffas the Force in 2017 after being forced into voluntary administration and laying off 10 staff – including the chief executive – during a tumultuous pre-season.<\/a><\/p>\n

Tickets for Friday's season opener against the Brumbies at AAMI Park went on sale on Monday \ufeffand a Rebels email pleaded with fans.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season on the home of rugby, Stan Sport, kicking off on February 23.<\/strong><\/em> Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1759438139385585879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw<\/a><\/p>\n

"With every ticket purchased, you're not just securing your spot in the stands \u2013 you're making a powerful statement of solidarity and support for your club," it read.<\/p>\n

Foote was singing from the same song sheet when meeting with reporters before training.<\/p>\n

"We're really hoping that we get a good crowd," Foote said.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\ufeff<\/strong> 'No hardness' – Eddie's savage whack for Wallabies<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Schmidt defection stings 'tender' All Blacks ace<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Alaalatoa pitches to captain Wallabies under Schmidt<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Rebels<\/p>\n

"The boys have trained well, had two great trial games and a big crowd at the stadium would be really special for us. Let's get behind it and we will be playing a brand of rugby that people love to watch so get down."\ufeff<\/p>\n

Rugby Australia has publicly said a decision on the Rebels' future will be made before the end of the Super Rugby season but a call is likely to come much sooner.<\/p>\n

Foote agreed a winning start to the campaign would help their cause.<\/p>\n

"As a young coach, you probably don't speak about winning as much you say 'process, process,' but winning is important and talking about winning is important," he said.<\/p>\n

"It's not lost on us, but we understand that there's obviously a long season to go. We do speak about winning and it is important and given where the club's at, it'll definitely help."<\/p>\n

The cruel irony for the Rebels is that they probably boast the strongest roster of their 14 year existence.\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"Rob<\/p>\n

They have recruited Wallabies superstar Taniela Tupou, experienced Test forward Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and one-Test All Blacks centre Matt Proctor.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"Taniela has been \ufeffembracing Melbourne and, when you're that big, he's been embracing the food as well," Rebels captain Rob Leota joked in an interview with Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n

"No, he's been good man, his character is just… people love him.<\/p>\n

\"Taniela<\/p>\n

"He gets around all of the boys and connects well with everyone from the youngest in the team to the oldest. So he's been really good for the group, good energy and good vibe."<\/p>\n

Leota is also expecting big things from Proctor, an excellent defender and communicator who was a key to the Hurricanes' 2016 title.<\/p>\n

"He's been awesome for us with his experience and how calm he is."<\/p>\n

\"Matt<\/p>\n

The Rebels have gone 2-0 in the pre-season with a 38-12 dismantling of the Waratahs before a 26-21 win over the Drua.<\/p>\n

They host the first Australian game of the season, against the powerful Brumbies (7.35pm Friday AEDT).\ufeff<\/p>\n

"It can go one of two ways," Leota told WWOS regarding the club's plight.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/StanSportRugby\/status\/1757932742657061147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw<\/a><\/p>\n

"You can just throw in the towel or you go backs against the wall and you do something. I'm from Melbourne and I definitely see the impact that the Rebels are having on guys coming through and how important it is for young kids in Victoria, they want to play rugby as well."<\/p>\n

ROUND ONE\ufeff FIXTURE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rebels vs Brumbies:<\/strong> Melbourne's AAMI Park, Friday 7.35pm AEDT\ufeff<\/p>\n

REBELS 2024 SQUAD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Props:<\/strong> Cabous Eloff, Pone Fa'amausili, Sam Talakai, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Isaac Kailea<\/p>\n

Hookers:<\/strong> Alex Mafi, Jordan Uelese, Ethan Dobbins<\/p>\n

Locks:<\/strong> Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Canham, Angelo Smith, Daniel Maiava, Tuaina Tall Tualima<\/p>\n

Loose forwards:<\/strong> Rob Leota (c), Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Zac Hough<\/p>\n

Halfbacks:<\/strong> Jack Maunder, Ryan Louwrens, James Tuttle<\/p>\n

Five-eighths:<\/strong> Carter Gordon, Mason Gordon, David Palu<\/p>\n

Centres:<\/strong> Matt Proctor, David Feliuai, Nick Jooste, Lebron Naea, Lukas Ripley, David Vaihu<\/p>\n

Outside backs:<\/strong> Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway, Darby Lancaster, Filipo Daugunu, Jake Strachan, Joe Pincus, Glen Vaihu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rebels coach Kevin Foote has urged the Melbourne public to vote with their feet – and wallets – in a desperate bid to save the […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":369087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369083"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=369083"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369083\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":369092,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/369083\/revisions\/369092"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/369087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=369083"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=369083"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=369083"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}