Rebels lock Dom Day has played rugby in four countries but he’s never seen an injury toll quite like that at the Melbourne club this year.
Fifteen of the Rebels’ top-line players are out injured and Day said he couldn’t remember ever being in the middle of such a casualty ward.
“It’s been a perfect storm of injuries, which has been really frustrating,” he said.
“On the plus side, you’ve got a lot of guys getting an opportunity.
“Guys come in like Hugh (Sinclair) and Will (Miller) who’ve been awesome.
“They’ve really stepped up in training and they’ve been pushing everyone.
“It’s how I got my chance, through injury, and hopefully those guys will be here in 10 years’ time as well.”
Day, himself, was out with injury at the start of the season and lasted less than a minute in his debut game for the Rebels, but has rebounded in recent weeks to string consistent appearances together.
The 31-year-old, who signed with the Rebels from Bath ahead of this season, said it would be a ‘tragedy’ to see the club, as well as two South African teams, potentially disappear under a new Super Rugby format.
“It’s tough because I watch a lot of Super Rugby back home and you see the Melbourne Rebels, they’ve done really well and they just got better and better,” he said.
“The fact that not just an Aussie team but a couple of South African teams might not be there either it’s hard to take.
“I see so much talent in this team and for it not to be here in a couple of months is tragic I think. The ARU need to have a look at it, at the talent.
“(It’s) not just in this team but the Force as well, they're in the same predicament and we need to fight for it.”
Despite just having a win and a draw to their names, the Rebels are still clinging to the faint hope of winning the Australian conference and a home final, a dream that could become a little bit more realistic
“There’s a lot on the line when you play against the Aussie teams and anyone in your conference,” he said.
“Such is the way our conference has been, we’ve still got a chance of making the playoffs if we can turn things round and that’s what we need to do this weekend.”
The Rebels take on the Reds on Saturday night, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.
