No such thing as 'Melbourne Brumbies' says Thomson

According to the Canberra Times, Thomson declared that a merger will kill rugby in the two cities.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) opted to keep the Brumbies in the 2018 Super Rugby competition based on their club finances, high performance, sponsorship and governance.

ARU have opted to either cut the Western Force of Melbourne Rebels under Super Rugby's new structure for 2018.

However, in the Rebels and Force's bid for survival, they have drag the Brumbies back into the dilemma, by speculating of a possible merger between Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies.

"We're not looking at merging or contemplating a move to Melbourne, we are stable on our own two feet and in a far better position than a majority of Super Rugby teams," Thomson told the Canberra Times.

"When you look at on-field performance, sustainability and participation numbers, there's virtually no reason that you would even consider having us as part of this discussion.

"We don't see any benefit in being part of it and the other piece around it is if we were to play four games in Canberra and four in Melbourne it would kill both franchises," he added.

Thomson said it was frustrating the club was still being dragged into the drawn-out saga, adding there was enough work to be done in rugby without the distraction.

"Certainly all of the Australian sides are struggling but we're the best of them and have been the best since our inception in terms of profitability and on-field performance," Thomson said.

"Can we get better? Without a doubt and we need to get better, but the ARU have been clear that we're no longer part of this process, so the speculation is disappointing,"

Meanwhile, Rebels owner Andrew Cox told The Australian he is still open to a Melbourne-Brumbies merger.

Source: canberratimes.com.au