The Melbourne Rebels, one of Australia’s five Super Rugby Pacific teams, have been notified by Rugby Australia (RA) that they will not be able to participate in the 2025 iteration of the competition.
The news comes as the Rebels, who joined the competition in 2011, are currently preparing for their first ever finals series. The club has been plagued by financial insecurity throughout its 13-year history and currently owes $23 million to creditors.
Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby proposal
RA rejected an application for a group of financial backers, led by former Qantas chairman Leigh Clifford to support the club through to 2030.
The organisation said in a statement “the application did not demonstrate sufficient financial viability” and that forecasts made in the application were “overly optimistic”.
Court battle?
Clifford has threatened legal action against Rugby Australia for refusing to negotiate the offer. The last high-profile suit against RA was over its sacking of star player Israel Folau.
