MEDIA RELEASE

Rebels welcome back experience for final trial  

 
The Melbourne Rebels have named an extended 30-player team ahead of the club’s final trial match against the NSW Waratahs at Brookvale Oval in Sydney on Thursday.

Rebels Head Coach Dave Wessels has included new captain Adam Coleman and internationals Jermaine Ainsley, Lopeti Timani, Reece Hodge, Sefa Naivalu and Amanaki Mafi for their first appearances of 2018.

The trial will mark the first occasion for new recruits Coleman, Ainsley and substitute Ross Haylett-Petty to pull on the Rebels jersey ahead of next weekend’s season opener against the Queensland Reds at AAMI Park.

Prop Tetera Faulkner, hooker Jordan Uelese, lock Matt Philip and flanker Angus Cottrell have retained their spots in the starting line-up following the Rebels’ first trial match of the year against the Brumbies last weekend.

Scrumhalf Michael Ruru will partner Jack Debreczeni in the halves after the experienced flyhalf was promoted to the starting line-up for the final trial match while Jack Maddocks and Naivalu will occupy the wings and Dane Haylett-Petty at fullback.

Wessels and the club’s medical staff have opted for a cautious approach to the final trial with Will Genia (back), Marika Koroibete (knee) and Richard Hardwick (knee) given more time to overcome their injuries.

The Rebels finalise their trial phase of the pre-season on Thursday as preparations wrap up ahead of the 2018 Vodafone Super Rugby season.

QUOTES: Dave Wessels, Rebels Head Coach
 
On the Rebels squad for the trial match:

“The trial against the Waratahs will be an important opportunity to get some more rugby into our legs and an opportunity for our international players to build those new connections in a live fire competitive environment. We want to see players competing hard and putting their hand up for Round One selection next weekend,” Wessels.

On the trial against the Waratahs:

“We’ve got some very clear objectives heading into this final trial against the Waratahs. We learnt some harsh but valuable lessons in our first trial against the Brumbies so I want to see everything that we’ve been working hard on put into practice against the Waratahs,” Wessels said.

QUOTES: Dane Haylett-Petty, Rebels fullback

On being selected for the trial match at fullback:

“After a long and hard pre-season, it’s nice to be back playing competitive rugby again, even if it’s a trial game. Our trial against the Brumbies identified a few areas of our game that needed attention so we’ve worked hard over the last week. Being our last trial game before Round 1, we need to see some improvement as we continue to build towards our first game of the season against the Reds next weekend,” Haylett-Petty said.

Trial Game
NSW Waratahs v Melbourne Rebels
Thursday 15 February 2018
Brookvale Oval, Sydney, NSW
Kick-Off: 6.45pm (AEDT)

Melbourne Rebels team for trial v Waratahs
1. Tetera Faulkner
2. Jordan Uelese
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Matt Philip
5. Adam Coleman (c)
6. Lopeti Timani
7. Angus Cottrell
8. Amanaki Mafi
9. Michael Ruru
10. Jack Debreczeni
11. Sefa Naivalu
12. Reece Hodge
13. Tom English (vc)
14. Jack Maddocks
15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves:
Fereti Sa’aga
Mahe Vailanu
Sam Talakai
Trevor Hosea
Esei Ha’angana
Colby Fainga’a
Ross Haylett-Petty
Harrison Goddard
Tayler Adams
Kitione Ratu
Sione Tuipulotu
David Horwitz
Semisi Tupou
Dom Shipperley
Pone Fa’amausili

The Melbourne Rebels will kick-off its 2018 Super Rugby campaign at home against the Queensland Reds at AAMI Park on Friday 23 February from 7.30pm (AEDT).

Join the Rebel Army for the 2018 Super Rugby season with memberships now on sale from as little as $88 for adults, $35 for children and $218 for a family of four for all eight home games. For more information, visit melbournerebels.com.