Rebels Axed from Super Rugby - Tragedy or Triumph?

The Melbourne Rebels have been cut from Super Rugby Pacific from the 2025 season. Is this good or bad for Aussie rugby? What contribution have they made to the competition since 2011?

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[seets.]

I have been a Rebels diehard since day one - I remember getting my Wallabies jersey signed by Stirling Mortlock at the Rebels marketing launch as a kid, looking up at all the players and deciding that I wanted to be like them.
These days I watch every home game from the cheap seats with my dad - we sit and talk, and we enjoy each others' company whilst we watch. It's really nice.
I've never wanted a team to succeed more than the Rebels - I'm upset after every loss and ecstatic after every win.

What makes me more upset than anything else is the sad reality is that Rugby Australia didn't kill off the Melbourne Rebels; the Rebels themselves did. They've betrayed the hopes and dreams of young Victorian players, they've betrayed the community of non-players who love rugby from the sidelines, and (in my opinion) they've killed off professional rubgy in Victoria for countless years to come.
I've stuck by the Rebels - and look how they've repayed me.

[arkdeniz]

RA establishing a team in Melbourne was as valiant but as foolish as the dwarves trying to recolonise Moria in the face of the Balrog.
I am surprised they persisted as long as they did.
Should make the remaining Australian teams more competitive at the elite level tho.

[MrThrib]

Super Rugby is a fascinating competition. Every year we get to bet on what will happen. Will there be Japanese involved next year? Argentinians? Saffas? Will the Cook Islands get a team? Will Lithuania be involved? It's edge of the seat stuff.

Oh and some Rugby is played. The NZ teams win that bit.

[titoelcolombiano]

Rugby League is eating Super Rugby alive in Australia and now even Auckland.

[redlab]

Undoubtably a sad time for the many rugby fans here in Melbourne. This city has a large immigrant population including many Kiwis, Saffas, Polynesian, British people from traditional rugby nations. I'll miss the Friday night games at AAMI park and the incredible crowd atmosphere, and the chance to see some of the world's top players in action - even if they were playing for the opposition. Although the Rebels were only almost good, they played with an entertaining style, scored some amazing tries, and had some memorable wins. Yes, there are many factors contributing to their demise, but that doesn't mean a future Melbourne team isn't viable given the right backing and right business model.

[subhuman]

It is sad that the Rebels won't be in Super Rugby next year.

I'm only guessing here, but a lot of the players will go into the remaining Super Rugby teams, strengthening them even more (Goodness knows the Warratahs could do with you a few). Either that, or they go to Japan or Europe.

[pjclaasen]

The fact that you make the playoffs with a 5 and 8 record shows there is something very wrong with the way Super Rugby is structured. It was brilliant until it became bigger than 15 teams, but Super12 was the pinnacle.

[hikosaemon]

Unfortunate to see the Rebels cut but understand the reasons. Also as a Tokyo based Sunwolves fan, when you look at all the advantages handed to the Rebels to help them succeed compared to teams like the Sunwolves that were forced to play half their "home" games in front of empty stadiums in Singapore where the only expats watching supported the away teams, you can't really say that the Rebels didn't have more control over their own fate. I'd love to see the Jaguares back - they played some great rugby and started to really compete towards the end of their run, even with the travel burden. An outside idea might be a US team but travel would be even worse, and US rugby isn't up to the necessary standard right now.

I'd love to see Super Rugby in Japan again, but League One has just had a really strong inaugural season, so I can't see Japan rugby supporting a Super Rugby franchise again, especially when they are doing so well themselves at attracting Super Rugby players to their competition. Normally I'd suggest a Samoan or Tongan expansion team, but hard to see that working with Moana Pasifika struggling.

Still, the Force came back from the dead, so perhaps the Rebels can do the same? But as a Kiwi, I also admit the priority is to get Aussie teams more competitive and I get the feeling for now that reducing teams there serves that end.

[austinarsenault]

I’m a cheetahs fan and they are still around, they compete in the challenge cup in Europe

[omacburma]

I remember watching a Super 12 Rugby show while on vacation in New Zealand back in 2000. The topic of Super Rugby expansion came up, with a report coming out of Australia wanting to put a team in Melbourne. The pundits back then dismissed it, saying that nobody follows rugby union in Melbourne. If only rugby Australia had listened.

Let's hope they get a team from Argentina back in it. That would be a good addition to the competition.

[gusgrannan]

The AFL used to be the Victorian FL, all of the teams were in Melbourne and the suburbs

[johnryan]

I had adopted the Rebels as my Super Rugby team, due my mate being from Melbourne, so I am sad to see this news. Never good to see any team fold or getting booted.

[thestinkydwarf]

What about canning Super Rugby as a concept and focus on developing local leagues and junior rugby, u can have interstate/province games and international games as the marquee games to promote the game

[IanRuxton]

Rugby in Japan is now quite buoyant and crowds are returning. National stadium was almost full last week for League One final, and will be for Japan v England on June 22. I think the Sunwolves might come back. They also attract a very different supporter to traditional company fans.

[roberthutchison]

Apparently the jaguars are front runners for the rebels replacement, cause they been invited to the 2026 season, from reports from Argentina they all ready to go just waiting for the go ahead

[iancooper]

Well that jersey you are wearing will be a collector’s item

[johnjordan]

The Force would have gone the same way if it wasn’t for the backing of Twiggy Forest

[bsemmanz]

Bless you Brother, Blessings to your loved ones,
Thank you for the update.
27 I believe you play a part.

[amigunz]

AU needs to make a national comp and put the rebels in there.

[_peepyopee]

AU and NZ need to focus on their backyards
Both should exit Super Rugby, take their franchises back home and form national competitions around them.
Any Trans Tasman/Pacfic/International competition should be a champions league style competition similar to what we see in football. With the winner going on to face the European Champions Cup winner