Rebels to open 2013 season with four local derbies

The RaboDirect Rebels will open their 2013 season with crunch local derbies against the Western Force and ACT Brumbies after the announcement of the Super Rugby schedule for next year.

Both games will be played at AAMI Park, followed by an away game against the NSW Waratahs, before rounding out the first month with yet another local derby against new recruit Scott Higginbotham’s former team the Queensland Reds at home.

The Round One fixture against the Force is on Friday, February 15 from 7.40pm, with the Brumbies game scheduled for the following Friday.

Rebels Head Coach Damien Hill, with up to 15 new faces in his squad this year, sees the opening fixtures as an opportunity to put into practice everything that has been worked on throughout the pre-season.

“It’s a new look squad for us this year and the first month of Super Rugby will give us a clear indication of our standing early in the season,” said Hill.

The first three home games of the 2012 season will all take place before Round One of the AFL season giving the Rebels the chance to showcase rugby to the Victorian public.

“To have three of our first four games against Australian teams in the Force, Brumbies and Reds at AAMI Park presents us with a fantastic opportunity to promote our game to the sports-loving public in this state,” said Rebels CEO Steve Boland.

“We’ve recruited really well in the off-season, particularly the acquisition of current Wallaby Scott Higginbotham who was the 2012 Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year runner-up, and we believe we will take yet another step forward towards our goal of playing regular finals rugby in the not too distant future.

“We will also play a game against The British & Irish Lions at AAMI Park in June, one of the world’s marquee teams who only visit our shores once every 12 years, so 2013 is going to be a huge year for our club and it’s members and supporters.”

The first week of the season will feature only Australian teams, and will start a week early due to the nine-game tour by The British & Irish Lions in June. The RaboDirect Rebels will take on The Lions at AAMI Park on Tuesday, June 25, followed by the tourist’s huge Test match against the Qantas Wallabies at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, June 29.

All New Zealand and South African teams will start their seasons from Round Two.

After the Rebels’ bye in Round Five, the team will travel to South Africa for two games against the Sharks in Durban followed by the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

The Rebels’ other international fixtures are against the Crusaders in Christchurch in Round 11, and the Blues in Round 13 with the venue for that game to be confirmed.