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Bullitt
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http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,1...5846052,00.html
The Melbourne Rebels are not to be allowed to sign any Australian international players until the end of the 2010 Super 14, according to the ARU.
The team was officially handed the franchise rights on Wednesday, with new owner Harold Mitchell announcing the following to the Sydney Morning Herald:
"Melbourne, the home of sport, is to get another sporting team. This time, it is the Melbourne Super 15 rugby team, to be known as the Melbourne Rebels," he said.
"The name the Rebels had its origins in the goldfields of Ballarat in the 19th century in the uprising at Eureka Stockade. The rebel miners were fighting for a fair go, and in many ways Eureka represented the beginnings of the Australian egalitarian spirit."
But now the work begins in earnest, with the ten foreign players and a coach high on the list. However, signing any current Australian players will be a no go until the Super 14 season is completed on May 29th.
ARU boss John O'Neill believed it was important to protect the other four sides from plundering.
"We have undertaken to the four other franchises that they will get protection," O'Neill said.
"We will have a device that will allow Melbourne to get on with life but also avoid in the middle of a Super rugby season seeing a Waratah or a Red standing up there pulling on a Melbourne jersey."
Early reports state that Argentineans could be the first target considering the Pumas are likely to be included in an expanded Tri-Nations from 2012 as well, but the targets are likely to be further afield, with Chris Latham mooted as one expected target.
Various names have been bandied around for the coaching position, with rumours that Leinster's Michael Cheika or even former Australian test coach Rod McQueen could come on board as Head Coach. Munster's Tony McGahan, Bath's Steve Meehan, Wallabies forwards coach Jim Williams, NSW assistant Michael Foley, Japan-based Todd Louden, former Wallabies coach John Connolly and former Test prop Andrew Blades are also rumoured to be on the longer list.
The Melbourne Rebels are not to be allowed to sign any Australian international players until the end of the 2010 Super 14, according to the ARU.
The team was officially handed the franchise rights on Wednesday, with new owner Harold Mitchell announcing the following to the Sydney Morning Herald:
"Melbourne, the home of sport, is to get another sporting team. This time, it is the Melbourne Super 15 rugby team, to be known as the Melbourne Rebels," he said.
"The name the Rebels had its origins in the goldfields of Ballarat in the 19th century in the uprising at Eureka Stockade. The rebel miners were fighting for a fair go, and in many ways Eureka represented the beginnings of the Australian egalitarian spirit."
But now the work begins in earnest, with the ten foreign players and a coach high on the list. However, signing any current Australian players will be a no go until the Super 14 season is completed on May 29th.
ARU boss John O'Neill believed it was important to protect the other four sides from plundering.
"We have undertaken to the four other franchises that they will get protection," O'Neill said.
"We will have a device that will allow Melbourne to get on with life but also avoid in the middle of a Super rugby season seeing a Waratah or a Red standing up there pulling on a Melbourne jersey."
Early reports state that Argentineans could be the first target considering the Pumas are likely to be included in an expanded Tri-Nations from 2012 as well, but the targets are likely to be further afield, with Chris Latham mooted as one expected target.
Various names have been bandied around for the coaching position, with rumours that Leinster's Michael Cheika or even former Australian test coach Rod McQueen could come on board as Head Coach. Munster's Tony McGahan, Bath's Steve Meehan, Wallabies forwards coach Jim Williams, NSW assistant Michael Foley, Japan-based Todd Louden, former Wallabies coach John Connolly and former Test prop Andrew Blades are also rumoured to be on the longer list.
