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:

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.

Home grounds
The team scheduled its 2019 home matches at the following locations:

Other home venues used in previous seasons:

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:

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
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:20px;"|Year ! style="width:20px;"|Pos ! style="width:20px;"|Pld ! style="width:20px;"|W ! style="width:20px;"|D ! style="width:20px;"|L ! style="width:20px;"|F ! style="width:20px;"|A ! style="width:25px;"|+/- ! style="width:20px;"|BP ! style="width:20px;"|Pts ! style="width:25em; text-align:left;"|     Play-offs
 * - border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0
 * 2014
 * 1st
 * 8 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 399 || 184 || +215 || 8 || 40
 * align=left|     Semi-final loss to Perth Spirit by 29–45.
 * 2015
 * 3rd
 * 8 || 5 || 0 || 3 || 220 || 251 || −31 || 0 || 20
 * align=left|     Semi-final loss to UC Vikings by 50–34.
 * 2016
 * 4th
 * 7 || 3 || 0 || 4 || 260 || 262 || −2 || 4 || 16
 * align=left|     Semi-final loss to NSW Country by 50–24
 * 2017
 * 9th
 * 8 || 1 || 0 || 7 || 193 || 357 ||–164 || 0 || 4
 * align=left|     Did not compete
 * 2018
 * 6th
 * 7 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 239 || 192 || +47 || 5 || 13
 * align=left|     Did not compete
 * 2019
 * 7th
 * 7 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 206 || 211 || –5 || 3 || 11
 * align=left|     Did not compete
 * }
 * 2019
 * 7th
 * 7 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 206 || 211 || –5 || 3 || 11
 * align=left|     Did not compete
 * }
 * }

Australian Rugby Championship (Rebels)
 * {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:20px;"|Year ! style="width:20px;"|Pos ! style="width:20px;"|Pld ! style="width:20px;"|W ! style="width:20px;"|D ! style="width:20px;"|L ! style="width:20px;"|F ! style="width:20px;"|A ! style="width:25px;"|+/- ! style="width:20px;"|BP ! style="width:20px;"|Pts ! style="width:25em; text-align:left;"|     Play-offs
 * - border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0
 * 2007
 * 4th
 * 8 || 5 || 0 || 3 || 170 || 206 || -36 || 4 || 24
 * align=left|     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

 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2019 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2019 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2019 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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 Maddocks1
 * Justin Marsters


 * (c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes player is internationally capped, 1 denotes allocated national player additional to the contracted squad.


 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2018 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2018 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2018 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Props
 * Jermaine Ainsley1
 * 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


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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 Maddocks1


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Centres
 * Fabian Goodall
 * Angelo Leaupepe
 * Bill Meakes
 * Sione Tui
 * Sione Tuipulotu

Wingers
 * Tom English
 * Justin Masters
 * Sefa Naivalu1
 * 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.


 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2017 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2017 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2017 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Props
 * Angus Arundel
 * Tom Moloney
 * Rory O’Connor
 * Fereti Sa'aga
 * Toby Smith1
 * Mahe Vailanu

Hookers
 * James Hanson
 * Siliva Siliva
 * Jordan Uelese

Locks
 * Steve Cummins (c)
 * Pone Fa’amuasili
 * Esei Ha'angana
 * Alex Toolis
 * Emmanuel Maufou


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Loose forwards
 * Josh Fenner
 * Simei Kolio
 * Rob Leota
 * Sean McMahon
 * Sione Taufa
 * Lopeti Timani1
 * Ikapote Tupai

Scrum-halves
 * Maradona Farao
 * Harrison Goddard
 * Nic Stirzaker

Fly-halves
 * Jack McGregor


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Centres
 * Lloyd Johansson
 * Angelo Leaupepe
 * Hunter Paisami
 * Oliva Sialau
 * Sione Tuipulotu
 * Semisi Tupou

Wingers
 * Henry Hutchison
 * Marika Koroibete
 * Sefa Naivalu1

Fullbacks
 * Jack Maddocks
 * Reece Hodge1
 * Kitione Ratu

Notes: (c) Team captain Bold denotes internationally capped players at the time 1 National player additional to contracted squad.
 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2016 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2016 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2016 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Props
 * Cruze Ah-Nau
 * Tyrel Lomax
 * Tim Metcher
 * Tom Moloney
 * Fereti Sa'aga
 * Toby Smith1

Hookers
 * James Hanson1
 * Patrick Leafa
 * Siliva Siliva
 * Jordan Uelese

Locks
 * Steve Cummins
 * Murray Douglas
 * Sam Jeffries
 * Alex Toolis


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Loose forwards
 * Colby Fainga'a
 * Harley Fox
 * Ikapote Tupai
 * Rob Leota
 * Sean McMahon1
 * Jordy Reid
 * Sione Taufa

Scrum-halves
 * Ben Meehan
 * Michael Snowden
 * Nic Stirzaker (c)

Fly-halves
 * Jack Debreczeni


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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.
 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2015 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2015 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2015 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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 Jones1
 * Sakaria Noa


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Loose forwards
 * Colby Fainga'a (c)
 * Scott Fuglistaller (c)
 * Sean McMahon1
 * Jordy Reid
 * Pom Simona
 * Sione Taufa
 * Lopeti Timani

Scrum-halves
 * Maradona Farao
 * Ben Meehan
 * Junior Paila

Fly-halves
 * Jack Debreczeni


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Centres
 * Lloyd Johansson
 * Taiso Silafai-Leaana
 * Leo Taliu
 * Sasa Tofilau
 * Sione Tuipulotu

Wingers
 * Tom English1
 * 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.
 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background-color:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; text-align: center;" |2014 Melbourne Rising squad – NRC
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2014 National Rugby Championship season:
 * colspan="10"|The squad for the 2014 National Rugby Championship season:


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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 Jones1
 * Cadeyrn Neville


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Loose forwards
 * Scott Higginbotham1
 * 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


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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.
 * }


 * {| class="collapsible collapsed" style=" width: 100%; margin: 0px; border: 1px solid darkgray; border-spacing: 3px;"

! colspan="10" style="background:#f2f2f2; cell-border:2px solid black; padding-left:1em; padding-right:1em; text-align:center;"|2007 Melbourne Rebels squad – ARC
 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

Props
 * Scott Cameron
 * Heamani Lavaka
 * Dan Palmer
 * Mike Ross

Hookers
 * Nick Churven
 * James Hanson
 * Nick Hensley

Locks
 * Matt Cockbain
 * Liam Shaw
 * Richard Stanford


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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


 * width="3%"|
 * width="30%" style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top"|

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
 * }