Tickets are still available for the RaboDirect Rebels first ever match, to be played against Tonga at Olympic Park in Melbourne.
Preparation and nearly three months training will culminate for Super Rugby’s newest team, and the pre-season match will also be the first game played by any Southern Hemisphere rugby team in 2011.
It will also be a grand farewell to Olympic Park Stadium, before the 18,500 capacity ground is redeveloped into a new purpose built athletics training complex. The venue served as an athletics training venue for the 1956 Olympics and was until AAMI Park opened the cities only purpose built rectangular stadium.
Gates will open at 6pm, with kick off scheduled for 7pm.
As it is a pre-season match, the game will be played over four quarters.
Coach Rod Macqueen has stated that ‘one team’ will effectively start, with a couple of changes made during the first half, and then effectively a ‘second team’ will play, to give all players a run in the team’s first ever game.
All spots are up for grabs, while Macqueen has been coy on who will eventually earn the captain’s armband.
While four players – Stirling Mortlock, Adam Freier (both back), Julian Huxley (osteitis pubis) and Luke Rooney (calf injury) – are unavailable and Mark Gerrard is still to link up with the squad, the rest of the Rebels are expected to get game time, as is Melbourne RUFC centre Chris Slade.
It will be first of four pre-season matches that the RaboDirect Rebels will play.
After opening 2011 proceedings against Tonga, they will head to Morwell for their second match against the Sea Eagles, scheduled to be held on Friday 21 January at the Latrobe City Sports and Entertainment Stadium.
The build up to that match will see a ‘three-day Rugby Union extravaganza’ with the RaboDirect Rebels engaging with local businesses and the community, as well as having open training sessions.
Fiji will then be hosted in Ballarat – a site significant to history lovers and loosely connected to the RaboDirect Rebels – as it is the site of the 1854 Eureka Rebellions, before AAMI Park is christened with a match against the Crusaders.
MATCH DATE: Saturday 15 January, 2011 vs Tonga
Venue Olympic Park, Melbourne
Kick Off 7pm
Gates Open 6pm
Adult $15 (all general admission)
Child (3-16 yrs inclusive) $5 (all general admission)
Where to Buy Online at www.ticketek.com.au
Call 132 849
Or local Ticketek Outlet
Tickets are available for purchase on match day at AAMI Park, Box Office E from 6:00 pm