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Hanson, Stirzaker among four Rebels re-signings

Melbourne Rebels hooker James Hanson

Melbourne Rebels hooker James Hanson and captain Nic Stirzaker are among four re-signings for the Super Rugby team.

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Stirzaker and Hanson signed on for the 2018 season along with Steve Cummins and Fereti Sa’aga, the Rebels announced on Monday.

The news comes despite uncertainty over the Rebels’ future, with the club facing the axe from Super Rugby.

“Our squad for 2018 and beyond continues to take shape with four highly respected and quality individuals who will contribute to the Melbourne Rebels,” Rebels CEO Baden Stephenson said.

“Nic, James, Steve and Fereti have all significantly contributed positively to the club on and off the field during a challenging season.”

Hanson’s re-signing is the most notable for the Rebels, with the former Queensland Red having played for the Wallabies 12 times.

The Rebels have won just one of 13 matches this Super Rugby season to be bottom of the Australian Conference.

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J
JW 24 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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