Rebels' finance may halt home final?
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Melbourne Rebels may reportedly be unable to afford to host a Super Rugby home final if they top the Australian conference.
The Rebels currently sit a single point behind the Brumbies in fifth place with five games of the regular season left to play.
If they finish atop the table and earn a home final, the Australian reports, the Rebels will have to pay the visiting side about $75,000.
But chief executive Baden Stephenson denies the club are on the brink of insolvency, despite the recent departure of their chief financial officer.
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“There is no doubt that things are becoming increasingly fairly tight, but I’m extremely lucky that I have an extremely supportive and proactive board,” he told The Australian.
“We had our monthly meeting [on Wednesday] and we have some plans in place and we are working away. We are confident of what we have in the short term. The longer-term, post-2021, no one can crystal ball that.”
Melbourne play the Waratahs, who’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread, on Friday with NSW star Kurtley Beale challenging Rebels skipper Dane Haylett-Petty, both expected to audition for the Wallabies’ fullback jersey recently vacated by Israel Folau.
Source: AAP
