# Melbourne Rising

The Melbourne Rising was an Australian rugby union team based in Melbourne that competed in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team represented the rugby community in Victoria and was organised and managed by Rugby Victoria with the coaching and training programs used by the Melbourne Rebels being extended to players joining the team from the Rebels, the local Dewar Shield competition, and local Victorian juniors.
The NRC was launched in 2014, reinstating the national competition after an absence of six years. The previous competition was the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC), which was discontinued in 2007 after only one season. The team representing Victoria in the ARC was the Melbourne Rebels, organised and managed by the VRU. That Rebels team was the predecessor of the Melbourne Rebels team in Super Rugby and the Melbourne Rising team in the NRC.

## History

In 2004, a consortium led by the Victorian Rugby Union entered the bidding process for a licence in the Super 14 competition to get a team in Melbourne for the 2006 season. The then Super 12 competition was expanding to 14 teams, with one new licence being allocated to an Australian team and another to a South African team. Victoria and Western Australia were the leading bidders for the Australian team and the licence was eventually allocated to Western Australia, creating the Western Force.
For the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007, however, both Victoria and Western Australia were allocated teams. The Australian Rugby Union announced the new, eight-team national competition after setting up a consultative process in 2006 which culminated in a working session of some 70 delegates from around the country. It was reported that New South Wales gave up a fourth team to enable Victoria to participate in the new national competition.

### Melbourne Rebels (ARC team)

The Melbourne Rebels team was formed to participate in the Australian Rugby Championship (ARC) that started in August 2007. It was the only team in the ARC that was not directly linked to a Super Rugby franchise as Victoria did not have one at the time.
The Rebels' jersey had traditional navy blue and white hoops, the colours of the Victorian Axemen side that represented Victoria in the Australian Rugby Shield. The Rebels name was chosen in consultation with the local rugby community. VRU officials decided on the name in reference to Victoria's first Wallaby, Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop. At the official launch of the team's name and jersey on 29 March 2007, former Wallaby Chris “Buddha” Handy said:
   Like the great Weary Dunlop, Victorian rugby has a history of daring to be different, a touch of the larrikin, and always having a go. These qualities are what you want in a Rebel and characterize the way Victoria is successfully tackling this historic year.
The Rebels' head coach for the ARC was Bill Millard, a former coach of the Australian Sevens and Sydney University. Former Wallaby Fletcher Dyson was a coaching consultant. Former Rugby World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen was the No. 1 ticket holder and a passionate supporter of the club. The Melbourne side was allowed to sign a number of players from the four Australian Super 14 franchises. This included three players from the Brumbies and Western Force, and one each from the New South Wales Waratahs and Queensland Reds. David Croft was the 2007 captain.
The Melbourne Rebels played their ARC home games at the Olympic Park Stadium located in inner Melbourne, but the team's first league game was an away win against the Canberra team in round one. The Melbourne Rebels played their first home match in front of 4,875 people at Olympic Park the following week, beating the East Coast Aces.
After finishing fourth on the league table, the Rebels defeated the minor premiers Western Sydney in their semi-final 23 to 3. The Rebels played the Central Coast Rays in the inaugural ARC Grand Final. The Melbourne team was defeated by the Central Coast 20 points to 12 in the Grand Final, finishing runners-up in the competition.
The Australian Rugby Championship was terminated at the end of 2007 after only one season of competition, with the Australian Rugby Union citing higher costs than budgeted and further projected financial losses. The Melbourne Rebels side was disbanded with the end of the ARC, but was revived in 2010 under the same name as the Super 14 tournament was expanded to the 15-team Super Rugby competition to include the Melbourne Rebels for the 2011 season.

### National Rugby Championship

In December 2013, the ARU announced that the national competition was to be relaunched, with the National Rugby Championship (NRC) commencing in 2014. Expressions of interest were open to any interested bidders, with the accepted tenders finalised in early 2014. On 24 March 2014, it was announced that the Melbourne Rising would play in the NRC competition.
The Rising's jersey for the 2014 season was predominantly navy blue and pink, with white and electric blue highlights. The team's logo incorporated a rising star, representing future talent; a floral arrangement of Pink Heath, which is the state flower of Victoria; and the five stars representing the Melbourne Rebels.
For the 2014 NRC season, the Melbourne Rising secured RaboDirect as the main jersey sponsor. Sean Hedger and Matt Cockbain were appointed as head coach and forwards coach of the Rising. Both were assistant coaches at the Rebels. Craig McGrath, coach of the Melbourne Harlequin club, was appointed as backs coach. The Rising's training base is also at the Harlequin club in Ashwood. Nic Stirzaker was named as captain with Mitch Inman, Patrick Leafa and Pom Simona in the team's leadership group. Scrumhalf Luke Burgess played for both the Melbourne Rebels ARC team in 2007 and the Melbourne Rising NRC team in 2014.

## Colours and logo

As of 2016, Melbourne Rising's colours of red, white and blue were those of the Melbourne Rebels, although the side previously played in a navy blue and pink jersey, with white and electric blue highlights. The team's current logo is also adapted from that of the parent franchise, with the name Melbourne Rising used instead of Melbourne Rebels.
2007 Melbourne Rebels ARC kit and logo :
2014 Melbourne Rising kit and logo :

## Home grounds

The team scheduled its 2019 home matches at the following locations:
| City | Venue | Capacity |
| Adelaide | Bailey Reserve | 3,000 |
| Ballarat | Eureka Stadium | 11,000 |
| Box Hill | RHL Sparks Reserve | 3,000 |
| Cranbourne East | Casey Fields | 12,000 |
Other home venues used in previous seasons:
| City | Venue | Capacity |
| Ashwood | Ashwood Reserve | 3,000 |
| Ballarat | St Patrick's College | 3,000 |
| Frankston | Frankston Park | 8,000 |
| Geelong | GMHBA Stadium | 34,074 |
| Melbourne | AAMI Park | 29,500 |
| Morwell | Latrobe City Stadium | 4,000 |
For the Rising's initial season, the team played at AAMI Park, located in inner Melbourne. Opened in 2010, the stadium's major tenants include the Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne Storm, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC. Smaller venues were preferred from 2016 onward.

## Current squad

The squad for the 2019 NRC season:
| Melbourne Rising squad – NRC 2019 |
| Prop Jermaine Ainsley Angus Arundel Pone Fa'amausili Tetera Faulkner Matt Gibbon Noa Noa Fereti Sa'aga Junior Uelese Hooker Anaru Rangi JP Sauni Moli Sooaemalelagi Mahe Vailanu Lock Will Clift Esei Ha'angana Trevor Hosea Matt Philip Backrow Angus Cottrell Richard Hardwick Ross Haylett-Petty Luke Jones   Boyd Killingworth Rob Leota Pat Morrey Maciu Nabolakasi   George Noa Katinali Tai Joseva Tamani Ola Tauelangi Ikapote Tupai | Scrum-half Reece Fuller Delai Moto Theo Strang Fly-half Navarre Haisila Michael Moloney James So'oialo Centre Rodney Iona Lloyd Johansson William Lewesi Harry Potter Wing Taylor Acheson Lolohea Loco Matai Nairavu Ah-mu Tuimalealiifano Semisi Tupou (c) Nailati Ukalele Fullback Isaiah Leota Jack Maddocks$^1$ Justin Marsters Notes: ↑ Squad was named on 14 August. ↑ Jones was not named in the original squad, but was named in the team for Round 4. ↑ Nabolakasi was not named in the original squad, but was named in the team for Round 1. |
| Bold denotes player is internationally capped. (c) Denotes team captain. $^1$ denotes marquee player. |

## Records
### Honours

* National Rugby Championship
** Playoff appearances: 2014, 2015, 2016
* Horan-Little Shield
** Season winners: 2014
* Australian Rugby Championship (Rebels)
** Runners-up: 2007

### Season standings

National Rugby Championship
    Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts  Play-offs 2014 1st 8800399184+215840  Semi-final loss to Perth Spirit by 29–45. 2015 3rd 8503220251−31020  Semi-final loss to UC Vikings by 50–34. 2016 4th 7304260262−2416  Semi-final loss to NSW Country by 50–24 2017 9th 8107193357–16404  Did not compete 2018 6th 7205239192+47513  Did not compete 2019 7th 7205206211–5311  Did not compete
Australian Rugby Championship (Rebels)
    Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts  Play-offs 2007 4th 8503170206-36424  Runners-up

### Head coaches

* Pom Simona (2019–present)
* Eoin Toolan (2018)
* Zane Hilton (2015–2017)
* Sean Hedger (2014)
* Bill Millard (2007) – Rebels ARC

### Captains

* Semisi Tupou (2019–present)
* Angus Cottrell (2018)
* Steve Cummins (2017)
* Nic Stirzaker (2016)
* Colby Fainga'a and Scott Fuglistaller (2015)
* Nic Stirzaker (2014)
* David Croft (2007) – Rebels ARC

### Squads

    2019 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2019 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Jermaine Ainsley Angus Arundel Pone Fa'amausili Tetera Faulkner Matt Gibbon Noa Noa Fereti Sa'aga Junior Uelese Hookers Anaru Rangi JP Sauni Moli Sooaemalelagi Mahe Vailanu Locks Will Clift Esei Ha'angana Trevor Hosea Matt Philip   Loose forwards Angus Cottrell Richard Hardwick Ross Haylett-Petty Luke Jones Boyd Killingworth Rob Leota Pat Morrey Maciu Nabolakasi George Noa Katinali Tai Joseva Tamani Ola Tauelangi Ikapote Tupai Scrum-halves Reece Fuller Delai Moto Theo Strang Fly-halves Navarre Haisila Michael Moloney James So'oialo   Centres Rodney Iona Lloyd Johansson William Lewesi Harry Potter Wingers Taylor Acheson Lolohea Loco Matai Nairavu Ah-mu Tuimalealiifano Semisi Tupou (c) Nailati Ukalele Fullbacks Isaiah Leota Jack Maddocks$^1$ Justin Marsters (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, $^1$ denotes allocated national player additional to the contracted squad.
    2018 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2018 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Jermaine Ainsley$^1$ Mees Erasmus Pone Fa'amausili Tom Moloney Fereti Sa'aga Laurie Weeks Hookers Feta Luamanu Anaru Rangi Andrew Tuala Locks Will Clift Esei Ha'angana Trevor Hosea Sakaria Noa Matt Philip   Loose forwards Angus Cottrell (c) Richard Hardwick Rob Leota Isi Naisarani George Noa Ikapote Tupai Kojiro Yoshida Scrum-halves Harrison Goddard Michael Ruru Fly-halves Archie King Jack Maddocks$^1$   Centres Fabian Goodall Angelo Leaupepe Bill Meakes Sione Tui Sione Tuipulotu Wingers Tom English Justin Masters Sefa Naivalu$^1$ Kitione Ratu Fullbacks Kemu Valetini (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, $^1$ denotes allocated national player additional to the contracted squad.
    2017 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2017 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Angus Arundel Tom Moloney Rory O’Connor Fereti Sa'aga Toby Smith$^1$ Mahe Vailanu Hookers James Hanson Siliva Siliva Jordan Uelese Locks Steve Cummins (c) Pone Fa’amuasili Esei Ha'angana Alex Toolis Emmanuel Maufou   Loose forwards Josh Fenner Simei Kolio Rob Leota Sean McMahon Sione Taufa Lopeti Timani$^1$ Ikapote Tupai Scrum-halves Maradona Farao Harrison Goddard Nic Stirzaker Fly-halves Jack McGregor   Centres Lloyd Johansson Angelo Leaupepe Hunter Paisami Oliva Sialau Sione Tuipulotu Semisi Tupou Wingers Henry Hutchison Marika Koroibete Sefa Naivalu$^1$ Fullbacks Jack Maddocks Reece Hodge$^1$ Kitione Ratu Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time $^1$ National player additional to contracted squad.
    2016 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2016 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Cruze Ah-Nau Tyrel Lomax Tim Metcher Tom Moloney Fereti Sa'aga Toby Smith$^1$ Hookers James Hanson$^1$ Patrick Leafa Siliva Siliva Jordan Uelese Locks Steve Cummins Murray Douglas Sam Jeffries Alex Toolis   Loose forwards Colby Fainga'a Harley Fox Ikapote Tupai Rob Leota Sean McMahon$^1$ Jordy Reid Sione Taufa Scrum-halves Ben Meehan Michael Snowden Nic Stirzaker (c) Fly-halves Jack Debreczeni   Centres Lloyd Johansson Taiso Silafai-Leaana Sefa Naivalu Sione Tuipulotu Elias Vole Wingers Tom English Dom Shipperley Ah-Mu Tuimaleali'ifano Fullbacks Reece Hodge Jack Maddocks Jonah Placid Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time $^1$ National player additional to contracted squad.
    2015 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2015 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Cruze Ah-Nau Duncan Chubb Tim Metcher Fereti Sa'aga Mike Tyler Hookers Mitch Andrews Patrick Leafa Locks Steve Cummins Murray Douglas Sam Jeffries Luke Jones$^1$ Sakaria Noa   Loose forwards Colby Fainga'a (c) Scott Fuglistaller (c) Sean McMahon$^1$ Jordy Reid Pom Simona Sione Taufa Lopeti Timani Scrum-halves Maradona Farao Ben Meehan Junior Paila Fly-halves Jack Debreczeni   Centres Lloyd Johansson Taiso Silafai-Leaana Leo Taliu Sasa Tofilau Sione Tuipulotu Wingers Tom English$^1$ Stacey Ili Filipe Vilitati Dom Shipperley Fullbacks Justin Marsters Jonah Placid Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time $^1$ National player additional to contracted squad.
    2014 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC The squad for the 2014 National Rugby Championship season:   Props Cruze Ah-Nau Paul Alo-Emile Fereti Sa'aga Finbar Simpson Toby Smith Tui Tuiatua Hookers Greg Bauer Patrick Leafa Tom Sexton Locks Frank Amituanai Angus Hamilton Sam Jeffries Luke Jones$^1$ Cadeyrn Neville   Loose forwards Scott Higginbotham$^1$ Sean McMahon OJ Noa Reuben Rolleston Pom Simona Sione Taufa Lopeti Timani Scrum-halves Luke Burgess Ben Meehan Junior Paila Nic Stirzaker (c) Fly-halves Jack Debreczeni Shane Imo Martin Naufahu   Centres Mitch Inman Lloyd Johansson Sefa Naivalu Wingers Tom English Joe Kamana Telusa Veainu Fullbacks Rennie Lautolo-Molimau Jonah Placid Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time $^1$ National player additional to contracted squad.
    2007 Melbourne Rebels squad – ARC   Props Scott Cameron Heamani Lavaka Dan Palmer Mike Ross Hookers Nick Churven James Hanson Nick Hensley Locks Matt Cockbain Liam Shaw Richard Stanford   Loose forwards David Croft (c) David Dennis Dave Haigh David Haydon Matt Hodgson Shawn Mackay Filipe Manu Scrum-halves Luke Burgess Jon McGrath Fly-halves Michael Hobbs Dan Kelly   Centres Luke Cross Jack Farrer James Lew Wings Digby Ioane Peter Playford Peter Owens Nathan Trist Fullbacks Damon Murphy Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time