The Melbourne Rebels club allocations have been revealed today ahead of the 2019 Rugby Victoria club season.
In an initiative designed to link the professional arm with grassroots rugby in Victoria, all thirty-eight contracted Rebels will be aligned with a school or club to act as ambassadors for the code.Rugby Victoria GM Chris Evans expressed the importance of providing schools and clubs with role models for their players.
“Aligning the Rebels with schools and clubs is an important part of demonstrating the link between the professional and amateur arms of rugby in this state,” explained Evans.
“It’s important our rugby community is surrounded by role models who can inspire them on their rugby journey. The Rebels can play an important role in fostering and developing a connection with the community.
“One of the things that makes our community so unique is how engaged our professional players are.Seeing Tetera Faulkner conducting a scrummaging session at Moorabbin or hearing stories of Fereti, Rob and Jordan running water throughout the grades at Melbourne Uni – that sort of commitment to a club is really special,” Evans said.
His sentiments were echoed by Rebels GM of Rugby Nick Ryan.
“No club can be successful without the support of the community that you represent,” Ryan said.
“It’s special popping down to a Dewar Shield game on a Saturday afternoon and seeing some of the Rebels in the crowd less than 24 hours after they’ve taken to the field themselves.
“The fact that sort of support goes both ways is what makes the relationship between professional and community rugby so unique.”
Name School Club
Abel, Robbie St Kevin's Melbourne Unicorns
Ainsley, Jermaine St Francis Box Hill/Maroondah
Coleman, Adam Brighton Grammar Eltham/Northern
Cooper, Quade Marcellin Melbourne Unicorns/ Melton
Cottrell, Angus Haileybury College Power House
Daley, Ben Xavier College Power House
English, Tom Xavier College Melbourne Unicorns
Erasmus, Mees Xavier College Footscray
Fa'amausili, Pone Haileybury College Moorabbin
Faulkner, Tetera Melbourne Grammar Moorabbin
Genia, Will Fountain Gate Kiwi Hawthorn/Brimbank
Goddard, Harrison Melbourne Grammar Endeavour Hills
Ha'angana, Esei Marcellin Melbourne Unicorns
Hardwick, Richard Carey Grammar Harlequins
Haylett-Petty, Dane Geelong Grammar Casey/ Racing
Haylett-Petty, Ross Geelong Grammar Harlequins
Hodge, Reece St Patrick's Ballarat Geelong/Ballarat
Hosea, Trevor Brighton Grammar Harlequins
Jeffries, Sam Trinity Grammar Melbourne University
Jones, Luke Haileybury College Footscray / Wyndham City
Koroibete, Marika Haileybury College Box Hill
Leota, Robert Xavier College Melbourne University/ Northern
Maddocks, Jack Melbourne Grammar Power House
Magnay, Campbell Trinity Grammar Footscray
Meakes, Billy Melbourne High Footscray
Naisarani, Isi Scotch College Endeavour Hills
Philip, Matt Melbourne HS Endeavour Hills
Rangi, Anaru Ivanhoe Grammar Endeavour Hills
Roach, Hugh Brighton Grammar Harlequins
Ruru, Michael Ivanhoe Grammar Harlequins
Sa'aga, Fereti Melbourne Grammar Melbourne University/ Northern
Talakai, Sam St Francis Xavier Box Hill
Toomua, Matt Geelong Grammar VS Barbarians
Tuipulotu, Sione St Kevin's Moorabbin/Southern Districts/Cerberus
Tupou, Semisi Marcellin Box Hill
Uelese, Jordan St Kevin's Melbourne University / Eltham
Wilkin, Brad Scotch College Power House/ Shepparton
