MATT TINK – REBEL RUGBY MANAGER
After working for RugbyWA as the Manager of Community Rugby, Matt moved his family to Melbourne to take on this critical role within elite development and the community. As a former Scrum Coach at the Western Force, Matt also worked heavily with their Academy program and was also Forwards Coach of the Force A team. With a background in Coach Education, Matt is very keen to share the philosophies of Rebel Rugby with the local community. Matt is now in charge of coaching within Rebel Rugby and is also Head Coach of the Rebel Rising team. He will also act as a resource to all state teams throughout the season to ensure the Rebel Rugby concepts are common throughout Victoria and will play a major role in not only driving the evolution of Rugby in this state, but in bringing on the first Victorian player into the RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels through the Rebel Rugby program.
IAN GILLIES - TEAM MANAGER, REBEL RUGBY
Representing a significant point of difference for the Rebels, Ian is the first community volunteer who has been anointed as a staff member of the Rebel Rugby team. Ian has managed many Victorian Representative sides including the U12s and Colts and was also Assistant Manager of the VRU Senior side. He is a Level 3 State Coach in sailing and taken his crews to the Gold Fleet (top 25 in the world) at World Championships and produced both Australian National Open and Youth Champions. He is a past President, Secretary and player with Melbourne University Rugby Football Club and has also coached both Senior and Under age Rugby sides in the Community Game in Victoria for Melbourne Uni and Harlequins. He is the Team Manager of the Rebel Rising program and will also fulfill this role for the Victorian Senior Team.
BRENDAN WHELAN - REBEL RUGBY S&C CUSTODIAN
The second community appointment, Brendan, a proud Irishman, comes to Rebel Rugby with a huge passion and knowledge of the game. His full time employment is running his own Personal Training business at Fit N Fast, where he is also responsible for training and development of the trainers within the business, ensuring they are at the cutting edge of expert fitness programs and advice. He has played and coached at the Harlequins club for many years now, contributing to Victorian Rugby through community rugby and the Victorian state program, being the S & C Coach for the last two years with the Senior State Team. Brendan’s role is to work closely with the RaboDirect Rebels High Performance Staff, then take this knowledge into preparing the best players in Victoria for professional rugby.