A Year in the Life and Death of the Melbourne Rebels - [Review]

Like 'Trent Crimm from the Independent newspaper,' in Season 3 of Ted Lasso, Rugby reporter Geoff Parkes of The Roar was given unprecedented access at the Melbourne Rebels to document a year in the life of an Australian Super Rugby franchise.

Geoff didn't realise when he started his project that he would be documenting the Melbourne Rebels' final season.

Regardless of your position on a four or five mens' rugby union team structure in Australia, your thoughts on how Joe Schmidt should bring the Wallabies back from the risk of dropping out of the 'Top 10' in the World Rugby rankings, your ideas on who the The British & Irish Lions should play in Melbourne on July 22nd or your theories on how Rugby Australia will ensure their NSW Waratahs aren't holding the SRP wooden spoon again at the end of next season - you need to read this book.

A Year in the Life and Death of the Melbourne Rebels is a first-hand testimony of events right from Phil Waugh 's supportive address at the Melbourne Rebels 2023 Sponsor's season kick-off event through to Rugby Australia 's vote against a DOCA investment proposal and refusal to allow the Melbourne Rebels to participate in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The unique memoir documents Geoff's observations and candid conversations with Players, Staff and Directors of the Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union franchise - nothing was off-limits.

The highs of success in the first season that the Rebels' men made the quarter-finals of Super Rugby Pacific, the lows of the constant disruption from entering voluntary administration and the politics between an Australian National Sporting Organisation and it's member unions are all shared in this fly-on-the-wall account of events.

The courts will now have the final word on how the professional game of rugby union will evolve in Melbourne. Victoria's grass-roots community is looking forward to Rugby Australia 's promised support and investment into the youth-pathways and community rugby.

Geoff Parkes' account of a significant moment in our sport's history is essential reading for any Rugby Union fan.

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