Melbourne Rebels have been axed by Rugby Australia (RA) after the governing body refused to accept a bid from a private consortium to rescue the franchise.
The Rebels have been in voluntary administration since January with debts owed to creditors exceeding AUS$23m, including AUS$11.5m in tax.
RA took over the running of the team for the 2024 season, covering the costs of the players and staff for this campaign, and there was hope when a potential buyer proposed a rescue plan.
However, the governing body rejected that bid and have instead chosen to cut the Rebels from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the season.
News delivered earlier on Thursday
Chief executive Phil Waugh and chairman Daniel Herbert flew to Melbourne on Thursday to deliver the news ahead of Saturday’s clash with Fijian Drua.
“Deadly silent, just absolute devastation, no-one said a word,” was the players’ reaction, according to Rebels head coach Kevin Foote.
The Rebels have often struggled since their formation in 2011, but the Melbourne outfit have enjoyed their best-ever season in 2024.
They are set to reach their first finals in Super Rugby with their place in the play-offs already confirmed.
Foote’s men take on Fijian Drua on Saturday in the last regular-season match before they likely face either the Hurricanes or Blues in the quarter-finals.
“We said we’ve really got the opportunity to finish strong and the group and playing staff are really motivated to do that,” the Rebels’ head coach said.
“We’re going to hold our heads high and have a crack.
“It’s been so tough, so stressful for all of the families. I’m motivated for the end of the season and then it’s time for a break.”
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RA unconvinced
The timing of the announcement was particularly brutal for the Rebels, who are preparing for a historic end to the campaign, but Waugh stated they delivered the news “as quickly as we could.”
RA remained unconvinced that the private consortium, which was supported by the Rebels board, had the financial capabilities to rescue the franchise.
The governing body also criticised the consortium for lacking transparency, insisting that RA never received the information they had requested from the group.
“There’s no good time for this,” the governing body’s CEO said.
“I was very clear when the Rebels went into voluntary administration that we would make a decision as quickly as we could with all the appropriate information.
“We received that information last week and had a presentation this week and we then analysed all of the information and we made the decision as quickly as we could to give certainty to players and staff.”