Uncertainty over the future of Super Rugby franchise the Melbourne Rebels has risen with the financially stricken club yesterday making Chief Executive Baden Stephenson and nine other administrative staff redundant while high-performance staff, including Head Coach Kevin Foote and General Manager of Football Nick Stiles, have put on four-month Rugby Australia contracts.
Having entered voluntary administration earlier this month, the staffing moves suggest that the Rebels may well not survive beyond the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Rebels went into voluntary administration earlier this month with debts initially reported at $9 million. However, administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) are understood to have discovered that the total debt is closer to $20 million.
The termination of employees on Tuesday, a day ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific season launch in Auckland did not impact players as they, including high-profile recruit and star Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou, are on contracts tied to Rugby Australia.
With debts to the Australian Taxation Office and the Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust, Rugby Australia has taken back the Rebels’ licence.
PwC are reported to have found that the Rebels owe $11.6 million to the…