It’s REALLY official now!
The Melbourne Rebels are now formally launched, and it could not have happened on a bigger weekend, with the Bledisloe Cup in town.
It also encapsulated the unique challenge that our Rebels will face.
It was a weekend that saw one of the AFL’s flagship matches, with Collingwood playing Carlton at the MCG. The A-League is kicking off next weekend, and the Melbourne Victory are getting ready for another tilt at the title while the new kids on the block the Melbourne Heart officially launched this week at Federation Square.
And if that wasn’t enough, in the NRL the Melbourne Storm played the Canberra Raiders.
Rebels recruit Adam Freier though got it spot on when he said that it wasn’t about competition, or taking on the established codes.
Victoria is recognised as AFL heartland, but the 15th Super Rugby team isn’t here to compete, it is here to fill another niche in what is the most wonderful sporting city in the world, in a market with enough choice to satisfy all and sundry.
As Freier said, if sport is the blood that keeps this city alive, then AFL is its oxygen.
But rugby and the Rebels will provide energy and in many respects be the final missing link in a city and state that has proven that new codes and teams are always very welcome, and continue to cement the cities magnificent sporting legacy.
Using momentum that was generated by the fact that the countries senior rugby team – the Wallabies – was hosting a side recognised as the world’s top dog – the All Blacks, the Rebels ushered in another piece of history with their launch.
In approximately 200 days the Rebels will begin their life as a side in the Southern Hemispheres premier domestic competition, and the planks continue to fall into place.
Nearly 1,300 attended the Weary Dunlop Club lunch, where the team’s new strip was revealed while the official song resonated around the congregated.
With a roster that looks capable of making a significant impact, and a support team built around World Cup winning coach Rod Macqueen, the Rebels will not just be making up the numbers.
"We want to be competitive, immediately - a side we can be proud of and Melbourne can be proud of," Macqueen said.
"We're looking forward to something special."
And their support is growing all the time.
Victorian Sports Minister James Merlino has announced that the state government will be contributing $1.5 million to upgrade Princes Park as a new training and administration base.
And of course the new AAMI Park is ready for action, which will be the Rebels new home.
The first purpose built rectangular stadium in the city, located on the site of the old Edwin Flack field on Olympic Boulevard, is capable of seating just over 30,000 people and will no doubt be the site of many Rebels victories in the years to come.