Rugby Australia (RA) can confirm that the Melbourne Rebels will not compete in the Super Rugby Women’s competition in 2025.
Next year’s competition will instead feature five teams – NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies, Western Force and Fijian Drua – with a revised competition structure to be announced in the coming months.
After Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union went into voluntary administration in January this year, RA resolved to investigate the viability of maintaining the Rebels women’s program.
That process has now been completed and did not identify a financially viable option for either RA or Rugby Victoria to sustain the program in 2025.
RA remains deeply committed to Rugby in Victoria and will continue to fund Rugby Victoria to support and grow the community game across the state and support the development and graduation of female talent.
That responsibility will extend to formalising pathways for talented female players from Victoria to join the clubs competing in the Super Rugby Women’s competition.
