Rebels have 'hit list' of 500 players
Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:59
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has provided new Super Rugby franchise, the Melbourne Rebels, with a 'hit list' of 500 potential recruits, made up of southern hemisphere players currently based in Europe and Japan.
The Daily Telegraph reports that it is also understood the Rebels have targeted Wallaby stars Berrick Barnes, David Pocock, Peter Hynes, Benn Robinson and Stirling Mortlock as their marquee signings for 2011, with some talks already taking place.
More than 100 Australians were included in the comprehensive document identifying the overseas players.
It was given to the Rebels in early January and passed on to the four Australian Super 14 teams during the past week.
Big names on rugby's hottest document include expats Mark Gerrard, Mark Gasnier, Daniel Heenan, Hugh McMeniman and Rodney Blake.
Former All Blacks Doug Howlett, Caleb Ralph and Casey Laulala, Springboks Brent Russell and Joe van Niekerk, star Fijian centre Seru Rabeni and Argentinian fullback Federico Todeschini are also among the names of potential signings.
That list was compiled by the ARU and provides a potential goldmine for the Rebels as they work towards putting together their squad for next season, as well as the four other Australian teams.
"We have managed to track close to all the Argentinians, Pacific Islanders, Australians, Kiwis and South Africans who are currently registered and playing professionally in the northern hemisphere," ARU High Performance Unit boss David Nucifora told the Daily Telegraph.
"We have a register on all of those players that are up in that part of the world, who they are playing for, by position.
"There is a very large number of southern hemisphere players who are a mixture of both proven international and young players who have gone up there early in their careers."
The Rebels can sign up to 10 foreign players, with coach Rod Macqueen indicating they will look to pick up four.
They recently made a recruitment trip to Europe, but returned home without any signatures.
Nucifora said the ARU realised it would be unlikely the Rebels could sign a large number of full internationals because of the cost.
But from that expat list they have the potential to snare several quality players without breaking the bank.
The Daily Telegraph reports it has been made aware of one topline Fijian star who is currently receiving only $78,000 (just over US $70,000) in Europe. The Rebels have also been given details of the 50 Australian Super 14 players who are off contract at the end of this season.
But the Melbourne side is not happy with the ruling that prevents them from signing players from rival Australian Super franchises until May 30.
All Australian Super CEOs, including Melbourne's Brian Waldron, held a telephone conference on Tuesday to discuss the Rebels' concerns.
But from April 1, all players currently on Academy and Sevens contracts can be signed by any of the Australian teams, including the Rebels.
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