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.

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

[Burgs]

Have taken Proctor out of the post from two days ago given now Force.
Updated original post.

[Tazzmania]

Luke Callan has left the Rebels to join third division Japanese side Yakult Levins Toda

[Tazzmania]

Pone Fa’amausili has been signed by Moana Pasifika

[The InnFORCEr]

Pone Fa’amausili has been signed by Moana Pasifika

I think that is a good way to go

[Burgs]

Retained in Australian Super Rugby- 17 (Waratahs 7, Reds 5, Western Force 3, Brumbies 2)
Lost to Overseas Rugby Union- 8
Lost to Rugby League- 2
Retired/Yet Unknown- 13

Big success...

[Burgs]

I think that is a good way to go

Well, for Moana at least...
Am getting the vibes that Eloff is out too?

[Tazzmania]

Brad Wilkin to USA and San Diego Legion Rugby

[Garry Owen]

Brad Wilkin to USA and San Diego Legion Rugby

These guys are way too good to be playing rugby in US (Wilkin, Holloway). Losing players to France, UK, Japan is bad enough but the level of play in USA is not great yet. I guess that’s what happens with only 4 professional teams.

[dpille]

the level of play in USA is not great yet. I guess that’s what happens with only 4 professional teams.

Hey, "Major League Rugby" has 11 teams!

But I do appreciate your use of the word "yet." Gotta say, though, I'm not exactly holding my breath in the meantime.

[bootsetal06]

There will be a heap of very talented players sitting on the side line in Oz as well plus very good coaching staff….. Dave Wessels and Kevin Foote already snapped up by SA rugby …..

[Tazzmania]

Nick Jooste off to San Diego Legion as well

[Tazzmania]

Looks like Luke Callan is back at Wanneroo Rugby Club

[Tazzmania]

Lukas Ripley in Tahs tour squad for tomorrow nights match in Japan