Melbourne Rebels Women

Rugby team

Melbourne Rebels WomenUnion| Rugby Australia (Victoria)

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Nickname(s)| Rebels
Founded| 2017; 7 years ago (2017)
Disbanded| 2024
Location| Melbourne, Australia
Region| Victoria
Coach(es)| Jason Rogers
Captain(s)| Ashley Marsters
League(s)| Super Rugby Women's
2024| 5th

1st kit

2nd kit

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Official website
melbournerebels.com

The Melbourne Rebels Women were an Australian rugby union team that competed in the annual Super Rugby Women's competition. The team was formed after Rugby Australia announced that a 15-a-side women's rugby competition would be launched in 2018.[1][2]

In their seven seasons in the competition, the Rebels won only one match and finished with a 1-22 win-loss record, as well as one draw. In October 2024, Rugby Australia announced that Melbourne Rebels Women would not compete in the 2025 season and beyond, finding that there was no financially viable option available to sustain the team.[3]

## History

[edit]

The Rebels Women ended the inaugural Super W season without a single win after a 57–0 loss to the NSW Waratahs in the final round;[4] they were also held scoreless in two matches.[5] The 2019 season also ended without a single win for the Rebels as they finished at the bottom of the table. They registered their first Super W win in the 2020 season after beating the Rugby WA team in round four of the regular season.[nb 1]

In 2021, the Rebels did not win any matches during the regular season and were edged by the Brumbies in the playoffs.[6] The 2022 season saw their final round match with the Western Force cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8]

### Financial woes in 2024

[edit]

The Melbourne Rebels were placed in voluntary administration in January 2024 with over $20 million in debt and reportedly had just $17,300 in the bank.[9][10] Ten administrative staff and CEO, Baden Stephenson, were made redundant and coaches were given four-month contracts.[11][12] Rugby Australia's CEO, Phil Waugh, confirmed that the women’s contracts would be honoured in the same manner as the Rebels’ male players but was not able to place a time line on any decision about the club’s existence beyond 2024.[12]

Ashley Marsters was named as the Rebels Women's captain for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season.[13]

On 2 October 2024, Rugby Australia confirmed that the Melbourne Rebels will not compete in the Super Rugby Women’s competition in 2025, with Rugby Australia stating that an investigation into the viability of maintaining the Rebels women’s program did not identify a financially viable option for either Rugby Australia or Rugby Victoria to sustain the program in 2025.[14]

## Current squad

[edit]

On 20 February, the squad for the 2024 Super Rugby Women's season was announced.[15][16]

Rebels Super W squad

Props

* Laiema Bosenavulagi
* Ana Mamea
* Hayley Glass
* Jiowana Sauto
* Paula Ioane

Hookers

* Jayme Nuku
* Ashley Marsters (c)
* Mary Tua'ana

Locks

* Easter Savelio
* Tiarah Minns
* Fapiola Uoifaleahi

Loose Forwards

* Laetitia Bobo

* Mel Kawa (vc)
* Sui Pauaraisa
* Hollie Twidale
* Sydney Niupulusu
* Grace Hamilton

Scrum-halves

* Lucy Brown

Fly-halves

* Cassie Siataga
* Sarah Hogan

Centres

* Crystal Mayes
* Harmony Vatau
* Grace Freeman
* Georgia Fowler

Wingers

* Tasmin Barber
* Halley Derera
* Tyra Boysen-Auimatagi
* Mia-Rae Clifford

Fullbacks

* Chanelle Kohika-Skipper
* Teuila Pritchard
* Millicent Scutt

(cc) Denotes team co-captains, Bold denotes internationally capped, SP denotes a shadow player and ST indicated short-term cover.

## Season standings

[edit]

Super W

Year  | Pos  | Pld  | W  | D  | L  | F  | A  | +/-  | BP  | Pts  |  Play-offs

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2024 | 5th | 5  | 1  | 0  | 4  | 85  | 136  | −51  | 0  | 4 |  Did not compete
2023 | 6th | 5  | 0  | 0  | 5  | 40  | 154  | –114  | 0  | 1 |  Did not compete
2022 | 5th | 4  | 0  | 1  | 3  | 37  | 205  | –168  | 0  | 2 |  Lost 5th place match to Brumbies
2021 | 3rd, Pool B | 3  | 0  | 0  | 3  | 25  | 57  | −32  | 1  | 1 |  Lost 5th place match to Brumbies
2020 | 4th | 4  | 1  | 0  | 3  | 59  | 188  | −129  | 2  | 6 |  Did not compete
2019 | 5th | 4  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 22  | 285  | −263  | 0  | 0 |  Did not compete
2018 | 5th | 4  | 0  | 0  | 4  | 21  | 239  | −218  | 0  | 0 |  Did not compete

## Coaches

[edit]

Melbourne Rebels Women coaches by date, matches and win percentage* Coach  | Term  | P | W | D | L | Win %

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Alana Thomas | 2018–2022  | 19  | 1  | 1  | 17  | 5.26%
Jason Rogers  | 2023–Present  | 5  | 0  | 1  | 5  | 0.00%
Totals (2018–Present)* | 24  | 1  | 1  | 22  | 4.16%
Updated to: 6 March 2024

Notes:

^* Official Super Rugby Women's competition matches only, including finals.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The Western Force played under the name Rugby WA in 2019 and 2020.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Super W: Rugby Australia announces national women's competition, but advocate slams lack of player wages". ABC. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
2. ^ "Victoria to compete in Super W". melbournerebels.rugby. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
3. ^ "2025 Super Rugby Women's competition update". rugby.com.au. 2 October 2024.
4. ^ "Rebels Women fall to classy Waratahs Women to end season". melbournerebels.rugby. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
5. ^ "Super W in Review: Rebels' future bright". melbournerebels.rugby. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
6. ^ Ayers, Harry (3 July 2021). "Waratahs win fourth straight Buildcorp Super W Title". australia.rugby. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
7. ^ Williamson, Nathan (7 April 2022). "Super W: All the team news for Round Six". rugby.com.au.
8. ^ "Buildcorp Super W Western Force vs Melbourne Rebels match postponed". rugby.com.au. 7 April 2022.
9. ^ Jaeger, Carla; Payten, Iain (25 January 2024). "Melbourne Rebels enter voluntary administration in desperate bid for survival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
10. ^ Jaeger, Carla (13 February 2024). "With just $17,000 in the bank, Rebels' fate to be decided within weeks". The Age. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
11. ^ Payten, Iain; Jaeger, Carla (14 February 2024). "Rebels survival hopes fading as CEO and staff lose jobs, coaches given four-month contracts". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
12. ^ a b "Rugby Australia confirm Melbourne Rebels' participation in Super W 2024". www.rugbypass.com. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
13. ^ "Leota and Marsters to Captain Rebels in 2024". melbournerebels.rugby. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
14. ^ "2025 Super Rugby Women's competition update". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
15. ^ "Former Wallaroos skipper joins Rebels after Roosters stint, key stars back from UK". The Roar. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
16. ^ Williamson, Nathan (20 February 2024). "Super Rugby Women's Squads confirmed for 2024 season". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Super Rugby Women's

* Rugby AU
* Super Rugby
* Super Rugby Aupiki (NZ)

Teams|

* ACT Brumbies
* Fijian Drua
* Melbourne Rebels
* NSW Waratahs
* Queensland Reds
* Western Force

Seasons|

* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* Category

* v
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* e

Rugby Victoria

Member of Rugby Australia

Super Rugby team|

* Melbourne Rebels

Super W team|

* Melbourne Rebels Women

NRC teams|

* Melbourne Rising
* Victoria Country Barbarians

Dewar Shield|

* Box Hill
* Endeavour Hills
* Footscray
* Harlequin
* Melbourne
* Melbourne University
* Moorabbin
* Power House

Venues|

AAMI Park
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