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Rebels captain one of five key players confirmed to depart the club

09 Jun 2022

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Melbourne skipper Michael Wells has been lured across to the Western Force with the Rebels farewelling a swag of experienced players.

Wells will reunite with incoming Force coach Simon Cron, with the pair formerly at the Waratahs when Cron was an assistant and also at Sydney club Norths.

“I’m particularly looking forward to linking back up with Simon Cron who I have spent a bit of time with at Norths and the Waratahs,” Wells said in a statement.

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 17

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 17

“I’ve kept in contact with him so when he told me he was talking to the Force, my ears pricked up a bit.

“He is the best coach I have had – someone who has helped me develop a lot in rugby and constantly gets the best out of me.

“As a player, to be able to be coached by him again is a big attraction.”

With 90 Super Rugby appearances, the back rower captained the Rebels this season with the side finishing 10th and missing finals.

Halfback Joe Powell is headed overseas after two seasons in Melbourne while lock Ross Haylett-Petty will join him after five years with the club.

Hooker James Hanson, 33, has also finished his time with the Rebels after 11 years and 134 games on the Super Rugby stage.

Meanwhile, winger Young Tonumaipea has returned to AAMI Park neighbours the Melbourne Storm to play in the NRL.

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Comments on RugbyPass

IkeaBoy 4 minutes ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Every chance you're right on that but it's an issue that won't go away. And it would seem there is a very good crop of players coming through at 9 and in the front row so it's likely to stick around.

Being an AB is different so I appreciate most of us NH folk don't get what they're giving up with a test jersey. They aren't just careers.

I was over there in 2010 during the old Tri-nations. Carter, Conrad Smith, McCaw and Muliaina where coaching school kids in an open session on a day off. It was astonishing how they conducted themselves. Every one of the kids looking up to them.

That's the standard but there is perhaps an argument that their current policy is holding them back?

193 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 10 minutes ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Come off it Graham even Matfield said that your provinces were weakened by so many Springboks going overseas. All Blacks heading overseas are bound to make our teams weaker too.

Petty insults aren't what I expect from South Africans. Sure you have a GOAT generation of forwards and genius coach who have made selections from overseas work for you these past seven years with two world cups and two rugby championships. Us, England and Ireland are in a very different situation and just because the policy has worked so far for you doesn't mean it'll work for us.

193 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 14 minutes ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

That's not unreasonable.

I understand it's not simple either way. I mean Jordie has been electrifying but we have’nt seen yet if it bounces into the upcoming AB tests. Even then, by the end of their test season, he will have been playing basically for 12 months.

I think the discussion is back in the spotlight because of Richie though. The game is currently a little quiet on the world class 10 front but that guy is on a different level.

There's is no other 10 in open play that is even close to him.

It a huge drop off between the next best group of standoffs.

193 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 22 minutes ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

It might start off with one player but that will only encourage other irreplaceable players to take advantage of that weakness. Opening a can of worms can't be reversed - you live with the consequences forever.

193 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 28 minutes ago

Bulls book Leinster URC showdown but injury to Springbok tarnishes win

Brilliant!

Yeah, maybe a case of beating what’s in front of you. They did enough against the Scarlets but did Glasgow both sides of the ball. I thought it would be much closer yesterday.

I got sorted in the pre-sale this morning. I'll take the auld fella down to it.

I see they were selling tickets for the hill for twenty euro! I hope there'll be a crowd up from the north just for the day out. Anything close to a sellout would be a big ask but Croker is a wonderful setting for the occasion.

In all honesty I can see a very good game at the weekend. Bulls have been very consistent all season.

18 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 30 minutes ago

Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

You do like to bring in previously undisclosed and unknowable evidence half way through the discussion. A judge would rule it inadmissible!

Surely though the crucial development is that they allow these European sabbaticals now. It does seem a bit pointless to dwell on past policies when the future is what has to be decided.

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Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

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Sititi was carrying an ankle injury hence the bench spot

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J Marc 2 hours ago

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And don't forget Farell selected for the Lions the next “best player of the galaxy “, Henry Pollock, who is a U20 too…

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Chiefs Mana 3 hours ago

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Irrespective of the made up quote, if they’re “good enough to beat a good hurricanes or brumbies team” then should they hope to go to chch for the final rather than play at home?