2024 Melbourne Rebels Squad Dispersal

[Burgs]

Another month and a bit since the last stock take, those remaining unattached or unannounced.
Departures listed in first post of this thread-

RA 2025 Contract
No known Contract (Happy for input)

Pone FA'AMAUSILI Unknown

Cabous ELOFF Unknown

Brad WILKIN Unknown. Gone from Australia A last year to can't get a contract by the looks of it?

Daniel MAIAVA Unknown, playing for Southland NPC, limited minutes

Maciu NABOLAKASI Unknown, but played #8 for Footscray in the Dewar Shield Final

Zac HOUGH Unknown

James TUTTLE Unknown. On LinkedIn describes himself as "Former Professional Rugby Union Player" with study background in Commerce

Mason GORDON Unknown, finished season with Wests Hospital Cup in Qld

David VAIHU Unknown, finished season with Wests Hospital Cup in Qld

Lebron NAEA Unknown

Lukas RIPLEY Unknown. started for Hawkes Bay, NPC in #13 Round 3.

Matt PROCTOR Unknown, but NZ Player and playing Wellington NPC

Nick JOOSTE Unknown

Joe PINCUS Unknown. Commenced employment at a Melbourne business consultancy in August though, at 28 perhaps retiring. Would be a good option for Force.

Jake STRACHAN Unknown, but getting solid minutes for Southland, NPC at #15 & #10.

[GIGS20]

Another month and a bit since the last stock take, those remaining unattached or unannounced.
Departures listed in first post of this thread-

RA 2025 Contract
No known Contract (Happy for input)

Pone FA'AMAUSILI Unknown

Cabous ELOFF Unknown

Brad WILKIN Unknown. Gone from Australia A last year to can't get a contract by the looks of it?

Daniel MAIAVA Unknown, playing for Southland NPC, limited minutes

Maciu NABOLAKASI Unknown, but played #8 for Footscray in the Dewar Shield Final

Zac HOUGH Unknown

James TUTTLE Unknown. On LinkedIn describes himself as "Former Professional Rugby Union Player" with study background in Commerce

Mason GORDON Unknown, finished season with Wests Hospital Cup in Qld

David VAIHU Unknown, finished season with Wests Hospital Cup in Qld

Lebron NAEA Unknown

Lukas RIPLEY Unknown. started for Hawkes Bay, NPC in #13 Round 3.

Matt PROCTOR Unknown, but NZ Player and playing Wellington NPC

Nick JOOSTE Unknown

Joe PINCUS Unknown. Commenced employment at a Melbourne business consultancy in August though, at 28 perhaps retiring. Would be a good option for Force.

Jake STRACHAN Unknown, but getting solid minutes for Southland, NPC at #15 & #10.

The further we get down the "waratahs hoovering up every professional rugby player in Australia" the more i suspect the unknowns are either getting shipped out of pro rugby or signing for the Force. Tahs have identified this week as "a signing a day" week, so their list will surely be full by Friday. Anybody who hasn't been announced a Tah by Friday will have essentially missed the boat to Europe. Judging by most of the names, few will go to super rugby in NZ If they're not currently playing NPC then def not NZ.

So we might be in with a chance for Pone, Eloff, Wilkin, Gordon, Vaihu, Ripley, Jooste and Strachan (the latter two because of their background with us, more thananything.

of those, I think we'd not push hard for backrowers so Wilkin is unlikely but we're still in need of currently capable front rowers (especially tightheads) so Pone and Eloff should be getting chased hard and the optimist in me is saying that they'll be announced as soon as the Tahs name the full list. (maybe a couple of weeks later to punish us for not signing up to being taken over by the piranhas)

I wouls also be making a play for the backs I listed (not necessarily confident we'd get them all) and my priority list would read
Jooste (closest like for like cover for Bayley while he recovers)
Strachan (seems to be pretty good cover for 15 and 10 with a bit of versatility so might play the supersub role OK (he might displace Burey as the starting 15, you never know)
Ripley, seems pretty speedy and we need outside backs
Vaihu, I'm not a massive fan, but we REALLY need outside backs and he is one who's played Super Rugby.

Ever in hope

Gigs