​

Former Wallabies coach John Connolly believes rugby must change its ways or the game will “die in this part of the world” despite next year’s World Cup on Australian shores.

Off the back of a soldout NRL Magic Round and the rise of AFL, Connolly has real fears for the game’s survival. The title-winning former Reds coach, who helped bring through Wallabies greats John Eales and Tim Horan, believes the game has become boring.

“I reckon next year when they go down to 10 teams in (Super) rugby, hopefully it’ll be home and away, hopefully there’ll be law changes, and if we’re not smart, rugby will die in this part of the world compared to the northern hemisphere,” said Connolly, who was a national selector at the 1991 World Cup before taking the reins ahead of the 2007 tournament.

“Rugby league and Australian rules are taking over the hearts and minds of people. The (rugby) crowds in the last 15 years have gone through the floor.”

In particular, Connolly stressed that rugby officials had to make the game “more attractive” and move away from the incessant rolling mauls, pick-and-drives and box kicks that are regularly deployed tactics in the modern game.

“I get bored watching it,” said Connolly, who specialised in forward play as a coach. “Penalty, kick to the corner, drive it over. Rinse and repeat. Get within four or five metres, pick and go each side, pick and go each side, and you get bored watching it.

“We need World Rugby sign-off for more changes, which we’ve done in the past. Things like tries within the 10 metres, the pick-and-go tries, should only be worth two points. Driving from lineouts should be limited to four men in the lineout. If we don’t make those changes and make it attractive to the fans, then rugby will struggle. It really will. It was evident watching this Magic Round.”

Connolly’s cries will likely be laughed at by those in the north, with French and South African officials at World Rugby meetings this year accusing those in Australia and New Zealand of trying to depower the scrum.

“There are different situations in the north and the south, their problems are different to ours,” said Connolly, who has coached in France and England.

He also argued Super Rugby Pacific needed to return to a home-and-away competition, especially with Moana Pasifika set to be dissolved after failing to secure enough financial support. “It has to be home-and-away because it’s perceived as a Mickey Mouse competition,” he said. “We played each other twice in Australia and only met the Kiwis once. That’s not a fair-dinkum competition.”

The Australian understands the competition could move from 14 rounds to 16 rounds, with Australian sides twice playing each other, Fiji and three of New Zealand’s teams, as well as the two other Kiwi sides once. A conference system, where the top two in Australia and Fiji and the top two in New Zealand, could also make up a four-team finals series.

It’s understood the move is being pushed by broadcasters, who believe it could revitalise an increasingly New Zealand-dominated competition. The top four spots in this year’s ladder are made up by New Zealand franchises.

As officials on Tuesday celebrated the 500-day milestone until the World Cup kicking off in Perth next year, Connolly said he believed the Wallabies, who won just five of 15 Tests in 2025, needed to expand their game under incoming coach Les Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt after the three Nations Championship fixtures in July.

“You know how Australia plays,” Connolly said. “It’s off the blind, box kicks, and their whole premise is to hold on to possession without taking any risks. Teams know that. We’re so predictable with how we play the game, and other teams are not fools and they’ve cottoned on. So we’ve got to change how we play because we’ve become too predictable.”

However, Brad Thorn, the game’s greatest cross-code star, said he believed some progress had been made despite the Wallabies’ fade at the end of last year, where they lost seven of their last eight Tests.

“I think last year was a really good result with the Lions,” said Thorn, who won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 with the All Blacks after his 2007 move from the Brisbane Broncos, where he won three titles and a Super League crown.

“But it was a long season (for the Wallabies). There were a lot of younger guys and by the time they went on the end-of-year tour, they were pretty fatigued – and most of that would have been mentally. I remember playing the Springboks in 2009 after the Lions series, and the Tests weren’t the same intensity; it takes it out of you mentally.

“So I wouldn’t feel too negative about last year, I think there was a lot of positivity with how they played against the Lions, winning games in South Africa, and they were fatigued at the end, and the tour was a step too far.”

Connolly said he was particularly concerned by the lack of depth in the front-row and uncertainty in the backs. “We’re at home, so that’s good,” he said. “If we get everything right, we can be competitive. But we haven’t sorted out the halves or centres.”

Kiss should consider accelerating the development of Super Rugby rookies Reds utility back Treyvon Pritchard, 19, and Waratahs outside back Sid Harvey, 20, who both could feature at the World Cup, he added. “I wouldn’t muck around. You bring them into the Wallabies now and take them on the end-of-season tour. They’re potentially really good players.”

One youngster who will be given every chance to feature at next year’s World Cup is Tom Lynagh, who’s believed to have recently signed a one-year contract.

The short-term deal comes after an injury-plagued nine months for the rising Wallabies playmaker, who started in all three Tests against the Lions last year. He has played just twice since last September. “I want to be part of the World Cup; that’s a massive factor,” Lynagh, 23, said on Tuesday. “It’s been really tough ... what I’m dealing with right now. I’m striving to get out there ...”

His decision to recommit will likely result in fellow playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips leaving the Reds, with the Force his most likely destination.

With the 2026 Junior Wallabies squads now pretty much locked in across the Coffs Harbour camp and the U20 Rugby Championship, I thought it’d be interesting to look at which players could realistically push into Super Rugby squads by 2027.

This list includes everyone involved in the main Australia U20 setup this year, plus 2025 Junior Wallabies back-rowers Beau Morrison and Ade Ekanayake, who I think are still firmly in the conversation as future Super Rugby players. Some are already on the radar, some have debuted, and others are probably still a year or two away but there’s a lot of talent here.

Jasper Asi

Sam Blank

Toby Brial

Dylan Bretton

Oscar Cleary

Luca Cleverley

Nicholas Conway

Cooper Eagle

Louis Fenwicke

Zach Fittler

Isaac Fonua

Jonty Fowler

Leo Jaques

Jacob Job

Ewald Kruger

Eli Langi

Edwin Langi

Marshall Le Maitre

Tavita Loughland

Finn Mackay

Tyler Maybery

Beau Morrison

Tom Robinson

Will Ross

Harper Strachan

Taione Taka

Kingsley Uys

Cooper Watters

Riley Whitfield

Frankie Goldsbrough

Angus Grover

John Grenfell

Jonah Rangiwai

Treyvon Pritchard

Chayse Geros

Nick Hill

Ade Ekanayake

Personally, I think Beau Morrison could definitely push into the Brumbies squad, while Ade Ekanayake would be a really valuable addition for the Waratahs if both decide to move back from the Sevens program. I know they’re technically from the 2025 cohort rather than this year’s group, but both really impressed me last season and honestly look like they could become vital assets for future Wallabies back rows because of their athleticism and versatility.

Tom Robinson, Eli Langi, Edwin Langi, Toby Brial, Nick Hill and Marshall Le Maitre all look like players who could realistically land Super Rugby squad spots next season. Nicholas Conway is probably the safest lock here given he’s already signed a multi-year deal with the Reds, while Leo Jaques and Finn Mackay are already in Super Rugby environments and should stay there in 2027. Treyvon Pritchard also looks locked in at the Reds after already getting opportunities this year.

I could also see Isaac Fonua making the Waratahs squad next year, while Zach Fittler feels like someone the Tahs could bring into a longer-term development contract. Chayse Geros is another player I’d expect to be in a Super Rugby setup soon because of how versatile he is across the backline. Angus Grover also feels like a natural fit as a future development halfback option for the Waratahs, while Will Ross looks capable of becoming a full-time Reds squad member next season.

Then there are players who I think probably need another year or two of development before making that jump. Jasper Asi, Sam Blank, Dylan Bretton, Oscar Cleary, Luca Cleverley, Cooper Eagle, Louis Fenwicke, Jonty Fowler, Jacob Job, Ewald Kruger, Tavita Loughland, Tyler Maybery, Harper Strachan, Taione Taka, Kingsley Uys, Riley Whitfield, John Grenfell and Jonah Rangiwai all fit into that category for me, even though several of them clearly have Super Rugby potential long term.

Cooper Watters is one I’m genuinely unsure on. I could see him getting a chance with the Waratahs as a back-three option, but there’s also a huge amount of competition there, so another year playing high-level club rugby might be the better pathway first.

What do you people think? Who out of this group do you see playing Super Rugby in 2027?

Bombshell claims have been aired in the Federal Court that the Melbourne Rebels attempted to secure $10 million from the Victorian Government, which they were then going to use to pay their overdue tax bill of nearly $12 million.

Rugby Australia’s barrister, Tony Bannon SC, made the claim in his opening address as the governing body hit back at the Rebels, who launched legal action after the club was axed from the Super Rugby Pacific competition in 2024.

Rebels chairman Paul Docherty is due in the stands on Thursday, and will face cross examination and claims that he allegedly sent RA chief executive Phil Waugh an email on August 22, 2023, suggesting the Victorian Government could be convinced to hand out $10 million of taxpayer money to the club.

“Their focus, Your Honour, we’ll hear when one considers all the evidence on saving their position, was getting a $10 million grant from the Victorian Government, that was who they were looking to,” Mr Bannon said.

“And the effect of what their efforts were, and they believed they had influence with the government, particularly Mr Doherty, was that they would persuade somehow rather the Victorian Government to pay the Rebels’ debt owed to the Commonwealth Government, rather reverse of most budget allocation debates and premiers conferences, but that is what they were pursuing and focusing on, and ultimately a misguided hope.”

The Rebels failed to secure any additional funding from the Victorian Government.

The Rebels entered voluntary administration in 2024, with $21.9 million of debt, including $11.7 million owed to the Australian Taxation Office.

It is RA’s claims that discussions between Mr Docherty and Mr Waugh indicated that if there was to be any takeover of the club by the national union, it would occur once their debts had been cleared.

Mr Bannon quoted from an email allegedly sent by Mr Docherty to Mr Waugh, telling the court: “I want to reiterate our discussions in the position we are trying to take here for the benefit of everyone to ensure centralisation works for RA and the Melbourne Rebels. We do not, did not, have never expected RA to take on the liabilities on our Rebels balance sheet. Nor is that legally possible to do unless you bought the shares out of the business while that liability was still there, something I wouldn’t personally advise any director to do.”

RA also rejected claims from the Rebels that they were kept in the dark about a proposed plan to merge them with New Zealand-based team Moana Pasifika, to call the new team Rebels Pasifika.

Reading from Mr Docherty’s affidavit, Mr Bannon quotes the former chairman writing that his board supported the merger: “The board requests RA accelerate the commencement of the restructuring of the Rebels with Moana Pasifika to become the Melbourne Pasifika Rebels.”

A participation letter sent by RA to the Rebels in July 2023 had mentioned that as part of the 2025 British & Irish Lions series, the touring side would play against “Rebels Pasifika”.

RA’s claim is that there was no query or complaint from Docherty, Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson, or any club officials about why a merged team appeared in an official proposal of scheduled games for the Lions tour, after the Rebels had submitted to the court earlier this week they were blindsided by the merger idea.

Mr Bannon said the fact five former Rebels directors – Georgia Widdup, Tim North KC, Lyndsey Cattermole, Neil Hay and Gary Gray – were not involved in these proceedings suggested the board wasn’t united in its views, but rather this case reflected the thinking of Docherty.

“The only evidence you’re going to hear from is from Mr Docherty and (fellow board member) Mr (Owain) Stone,” Mr Bannon said.

“You’re not going to hear from, and missing in action are, the other five living directors.

“The idea you could prove a relevant mind of the company, where not only, only two people say anything about it all … the other five obviously admit of all the usual inferences.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Rebels’ barrister, Bernard Quinn KC, played a video of Waugh addressing Rebels members at a function in Fitzroy in November 2023.

Mr Quinn suggested Mr Waugh misled the group by talking about longstanding partnerships, while aware that the Rebels faced financial challenges RA could not support.

The matter was briefly adjourned just before noon while legal assistants figured out how to play the video of Waugh without reverberation throughout the courtroom.

In the video played to court, Mr Waugh said: “We’ll only get better as a code and as a game if we work together. And I think that what we’re doing here with our partners, and I always talk about partnership, not about being a one- or a two-year deal … but I genuinely think we’re all in this for the long haul.”

Mr Quinn said: “What you could infer from that was that in any forum which involves discussions where there’s Mr Stephenson and Mr Docherty there, you don’t talk about the club as if it’s got an endless future and is part of the ongoing competition for the long haul if it’s not going to be the case. It gives a flavour to the lack of disclosure that in official forum.”

But Justice Cameron Moore, who is presiding over the case, hit back at that claim.

“He’s supposed to communicate at a function like that, which is obviously a lighthearted event?” Mr Moore queried.

More Coverage

Watch: The blow-up that landed Eddie Jones a six-week ban

Watch: The blow-up that landed Eddie Jones a six-week ban

“Whether it’s an after-dinner speech or in a drinks function, but it’s not an event where you set out to talk about structural changes.

“There may be other occasions where that type of discussion is appropriate.”

The case continues.

The cross examination of Docherty will be enlightening.

Australia needs the bledisloe. Coaches spend all their energy trying to blood players over their tenure to get us to a position to win the World Cup. It hasn’t worked. If they want to gain more fans outside of the die hard rugby heads they need to give people something to skite about when chatting with their kiwi mates. After all….. the bledisloe holds more beer

https://preview.redd.it/39umsirr422h1.png?width=1024&format=png&auto=webp&s=126c523e34201cbb8ea270d237d4c1f049763a13

If you like this article, please check out www.theunderdog.news

The Northern Hemisphere delivered another grueling weekend of rugby, defined by heavy traffic in the engine room and some clinical finishing out wide from the Aussie expat contingent. From forwards putting on tackling masterclasses in the Top 14 and URC, to the backs eating up the turf in open pasture, our boys across the globe left their mark.

Premiership & Champions Cup

In the English Premiership, Northampton 94 vs 33 Bristol was an absolute shootout, and Josh Kemeny was right in the thick of it. Starting on the blindside, Kemeny crossed the stripe for a well-deserved try and found 38 metres through the contact zone, securing a couple of crucial turnovers before heading to the pine at the 52-minute mark.

During Bath 69 vs 12 Newcastle, it was a tough day at the office for the Falcons, but Fergus Lee-Warner refused to take a backwards step. Operating at the base of the scrum, he put in an 80-minute shift of pure defensive starch, logging 14 tackles and grinding out hard-earned metres against the feed. Teammate Jamie Clark added some stability off the bench, anchoring an 86% success rate on their own scrum during his 30-minute cameo.

In Harlequins 41 vs 24 Exeter, the Chiefs' Aussie contingent worked tirelessly. Tom Hooper was a workhorse on the blindside, completing 13 tackles and dragging defenders for 35 metres. Scott Sio was immovable in the dark arts, securing a 100% success rate on the Exeter feed. Meanwhile, Len Ikitau added some polish to the backline, running a beautiful line to grab 1 try and beat 3 defenders in limited traffic.

Meanwhile, it was a heartbreaking afternoon for Leicester’s Wallaby veteran James O'Connor. After massive anticipation for his start in the 10 jersey, JOC was busy early, knocking over 1 shot at goal, taking 2 carries, and throwing a highly debated flat ball that had the grandstand screaming forward. However, in a cruel twist of fate, his shift was cut desperately short. O'Connor went down with a gutting injury just 12 minutes in, forcing him off the park for Solomone Kata. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for the Tigers faithful, as his absence threatens to disrupt their playmaking axis and backline chemistry right on the eve of the playoffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVAdUCrPMZo&pp=ygUWTm9ydGhhbXB0b24gdnMgQnJpc3RvbNIHCQkECwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D

URC & Challenge Cup

The URC saw plenty of Aussie muscle, highlighted by Ulster 22 vs 26 Glasgow. Jack Dempsey was an absolute battering ram for the Warriors, eating up 76 metres from 18 carries to lay a dominant platform. Outside him, Sione Tuipulotu provided a try assist and punched over the advantage line for 44 metres. Off the bench, Sam Talakai tightened the screws at tighthead with a 100% scrum success rate. For Ulster, Angus Bell grabbed important minutes off the pine, tackling efficiently in the loosehead channel.

In Bulls 45 vs 19 Benetton, Louis Lynagh was a lethal strike weapon on the right wing for the Italian outfit. Despite the loss, Lynagh crossed for 2 tries, showing his finishing class when given an inch of space.

Over in Wales during Scarlets 35 vs 35 Dragons, Max Douglas put on a defensive clinic. The lock played the full 80 minutes, bringing immense physicality with 14 tackles and asserting total dominance in the air by securing 8 lineouts won. Archer Holz joined him in the tight five, holding down the tighthead side with a flawless 100% own-scrum rate.

During Munster 24 vs 17 Lions, Michael Ala'alatoa was clinical for the Irish province, anchoring a perfect scrum and notching a try assist while getting his hands dirty in the tight exchanges. In Leinster 68 vs 14 Ospreys, Jack Walsh tried to inject some pace from fullback but was largely starved of clean front-foot ball against a suffocating Leinster defense. Finally, during Edinburgh 5 vs 26 Connacht, Finlay Bealham put in a solid 48-minute foundational shift at tighthead and Mack Hansen looked for work around the park, while Mosese Tuipulotu tried to stem the green tide for Edinburgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6bBXIsXoLs&pp=ygURVWxzdGVyIHZzIEdsYXNnb3c%3D

Top 14 & Pro D2

The Top 14 was treated to some scintillating Aussie backline play this weekend. In Castres 33 vs 36 Montpellier, Tom Banks was utterly electric from the back. The fullback ate up a staggering 122 metres, broke the line, and recorded 1 try and 1 try assist. Defensively, Tom Staniforth was a brick wall for Castres, logging an incredible 20 tackles in an 80-minute display of pure mongrel. Jordan Uelese also did the dirty work for Montpellier, finding his jumpers efficiently before being subbed.

During Pau 24 vs 19 Clermont, Jack Maddocks orchestrated the backfield masterfully. Maddocks was elusive all afternoon, breaking the line, beating 7 defenders, and grabbing 1 try and 1 assist while carrying for 73 metres. For Clermont, Rob Simmons made a surprising but effective late cameo at openside flanker, nabbing a crucial turnover, while Irae Simone also clocked late minutes in the midfield.

In Bordeaux 37 vs 32 Perpignan, Lachlan Swinton provided the grit for Bordeaux with a mammoth 18 tackles and a line break in a classic enforcer shift. Perpignan’s Aussie playmakers kept them in the hunt, with Jake McIntyre setting the tempo (1 try, 1 assist, 52 metres) and Jordan Petaia providing serious impact off the bench to score 1 try and chew up 51 metres.

In Montauban 25 vs 73 Paris, the Alo-Emile brothers shared the loosehead duties to devastating effect. Moses started the onslaught with a meat pie and solid scrummaging before handing the keys to Paul, who came off the pine to add 10 tackles and close out the rout. Over in Racing 92 43 vs 28 Toulon, Taniela Tupou added massive impact in the second half, locking down a 100% scrum rate and carrying with intent. Rounding out the top flight in La Rochelle 38 vs 10 Toulouse, Tolu Latu put his head in the dark places, securing a 95% lineout success rate and tackling strongly against the league leaders.

Down in the Pro D2 trenches, Ben Tapuai pulled the strings at inside centre in Brive 31 vs 29 Nevers, securing a crucial turnover and steering the ship, while Edward Condon added late starch for Nevers with 8 tackles in a tight loss. In Grenoble 17 vs 39 Colomiers, Cameron Holt worked tirelessly in the row, winning 3 lineouts and making 13 tackles. Zack Holmes kept the scoreboard ticking with 2 conversions in Oyonnax 36 vs 25 Aurillac, and Ryan McCauley won important lineout ball in Valence Romans 21 vs 34 Aix, though he'll be reviewing his discipline after picking up a yellow card.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYtZzKbPWUc&pp=ygUWQ2FzdHJlcyB2cyBNb250cGVsbGllcg%3D%3D

Shoutouts from the Back Paddocks

The North American MLR contingent was out in force. In California Legion 26 vs 36 Chicago Hounds, Billy Meakes played his usual abrasive 80-minute game at centre for California. But the Hounds' Aussie pack was the difference-maker: Charlie Abel, Nathan Den Hoedt, and Maclean Jones all went the full 80, laying a brutal physical platform, while Theo Fourie and Jake Turnbull added key minutes to ensure set-piece dominance.

In Old Glory DC 24 vs 23 New England, Jordan Jackson-Hope and Aidan King brought the physicality for DC, with King putting in a heavy 72-minute shift on the flank. For New England, Mitch Wilson went the distance on the wing, supported by back-rower Bailey Wilson and an Ollie Aylmer bench cameo. Meanwhile, in Seattle 57 vs 21 Anthem RC, Baden Godfrey tried to inject late energy from the back of the scrum.

Over in the English Champ during Worcester 35 vs 29 Chinnor, Tim Anstee showed his pedigree with a crucial try in an 80-minute blindside shift, while Hugh Bokenham added solid impact off the bench.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zdKrhJF3-4

This Week’s Aussie Barbarians XV

(Only players eligible for Wallabies are on team, if I have done my research right this week)

1. Scott Sio (Exeter)
2. Tolu Latu (La Rochelle)
3. Archer Holz (Scarlets)
4. Tom Staniforth (Castres)
5. Max Douglas (Scarlets)
6. Josh Kemeny (Northampton)
7. Lachlan Swinton (Bordeaux)
8. Fergus Lee-Warner (Newcastle)
9. James O'Connor (Leicester)
10. Jake McIntyre (Perpignan)
11. Jack Maddocks (Pau)
12. Ben Tapuai (Brive)
13. Len Ikitau (Exeter)
14. Jordan Petaia (Perpignan)
15. Tom Banks (Montpellier)

Replacements: 16. Jordan Uelese (Montpellier), 17. Moses Alo-Emile (Paris), 18. Taniela Tupou (Racing 92), 19. Nathan Den Hoedt (Chicago Hounds), 20. Tim Anstee (Worcester), 21. Zack Holmes (Oyonnax), 22. Jack Walsh (Ospreys), 23. Billy Meakes (California Legion).Anstee (Worcester), 21. Zack Holmes (Oyonnax), 22. Jack Maddocks (Pau), 23. Ben Tapuai (Brive).

Aussies Playing Overseas Last Weekend

(This includes everyone, it's a woulda-coulda-shoulda, so some wouldn't be eligible for Wallabies Selection, but this isn't a Wallabies list)

Loosehead Props: Jamie Clark, Scott Sio, Angus Bell, Moses Alo-Emile, Paul Alo-Emile, Jake Turnbull.

Hookers: Jordan Uelese, Tolu Latu, Theo Fourie.

Tighthead Props: Sam Talakai, Finlay Bealham, Archer Holz, Michael Ala'alatoa, Taniela Tupou, Charlie Abel.

Locks: Max Douglas, Tom Staniforth, Lachlan Swinton, Cameron Holt, Ryan McCauley, Nathan Den Hoedt, Ollie Aylmer.

Blindside Flankers: Josh Kemeny, Tom Hooper, Tim Anstee, Bailey Wilson.

Openside Flankers: Rob Simmons, Maclean Jones, Aidan King.

Number 8s: Fergus Lee-Warner, Jack Dempsey, Edward Condon, Baden Godfrey, Hugh Bokenham.

Scrum-halves: None tracked.

Fly-halves: Jake McIntyre, Zack Holmes, James O'Connor

Inside Centres: Len Ikitau, Sione Tuipulotu, Irae Simone, Ben Tapuai, Billy Meakes, Jordan Jackson-Hope.

Outside Centres: Jordan Petaia.

Wings: Louis Lynagh, Mitch Wilson, Mack Hansen.

Fullbacks: Jack Walsh, Jack Maddocks, Tom Banks.

For the Stats Nerds

​

The directors of Melbourne’s Super Rugby team thought the competition would rise from the ashes after COVID-19 with the support of Rugby Australia only to later learn they had no role in the future of the sport.

The bold claim about how the Melbourne Rebels rugby club was quietly knifed by the sport’s administrative body was made on the first day of a Federal Court trial to decide whether RA acted unfairly by withdrawing support for the club during its 2024 financial collapse.

The case is expected to offer a glimpse into the inner workings of one of the country’s most powerful sporting governing bodies, shedding new light on why RA chose to provide emergency funding to NSW Super Rugby team the Waratahs and the ACT’s Brumbies.

RA’s top brass including current chief Phil Waugh and former boss Andy Marinos are expected to provide evidence in the case. Rebels president Paul Docherty, who declared bankruptcy in 2025, is also expected to give evidence.

Opening the case for the Rebels before a packed courtroom in Melbourne, counsel Bernard Quinn, KC, said the Rebels’ directors had believed all the clubs in the competition had a good relationship with RA, one built on the common goal of the competition recovering after the pandemic led to cancellation of games and financial devastation for clubs.

“An atmosphere was generated, which perhaps had not been seen in the years before COVID, of a common purpose of collaboration, trust and confidence,” Quinn said.

“And that was … clearly, to raise from the ashes, nurture and develop a Super Rugby competition.

“The case will focus on the fracture of that active collaborative trust by Rugby Australia.”

Quinn said the directors had no idea that months earlier, in July 2023, RA had put in place a plan to preference the development of the sport in its traditional heartland of NSW, Queensland and the ACT.

The “Winning Rugby” plan, endorsed by the RA board, outlined a recasting of the sport to improve the patchy performance of the national squad. Under the strategy, the competition would be restructured to prioritise the financial survival and performance of three key east coast teams – the Waratahs, the Brumbies and the Reds.

Quinn told the court that the document would show that RA made the call to strip the Rebels franchise of its licence at a time when the directors were operating under the belief they had the ongoing support of the sport’s governing body.

“The essence of that policy was not disclosed to any of the clubs, including Rebels,” he said.

“And no one within Rebels knew what had specifically evolved until after this case had commenced. “It took litigation to get to the truth.”

The Rebels were stripped of their licence by RA in 2024, months after the club entered administration under the weight of about $23 million in debt, including $11.5 million owing to the Tax Office and another $6 million to members of the club’s high-profile board.

RA is defending the claim and is expected to present its case on Tuesday.

RA has long argued the Rebels’ dire financial position was a driver of its decision to withdraw support in late 2023 and not its plan to reshape the league.

It has pointed to the fact the club was alleged to have been trading while insolvent since 2018, as revealed by this masthead.

RA has also argued it was not kept fully abreast of the state of the club’s tax troubles, which included the directors of the club receiving director penalty notices holding them personally liable for the tax debts of the club.

Earlier in the hearing the Rebels directors applied to discontinue a separate legal bid brought against the person and firm overseeing the club’s administration to set aside the tax bill against the club, because the issue would be resolved in the substantive proceeding.

After a short recess, the court heard the parties had agreed to dismiss the directors’ case against the deed administrator, but the parties were still finalising the agreement.

The case continues.

Reds, brumbies, and force win the last 2 games w/ bonus points, with the saders losing both (to the canes & Chiefs mind you) we can still have 3 Aussie teams through

How bad is the copium?