Rugby 🏉

VICTORIAN RUGBY CONGRATULATES CASTLE ON RA APPOINTMENT Rugby Victoria and the Melbourne Rebels congratulate Raelene Castle on her historic appointment as Chief Executive Officer of Rugby Australia. The highly-regarded sports administrator will begin her role as the first woman to lead the national governing body for Rugby and first female Chief Executive across all of the major national unions in world rugby. The former Chief Executive Officer of National Rugby League club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Netball New Zealand will lead Australian rugby into a new, exciting and collaborative era. “On behalf of the Victorian rugby community, we would like to extend our congratulations to Raelene on her appointment as CEO of Rugby Australia,” Rugby Victoria President and Melbourne Rebels Chairman Tim North QC said. “Today’s announcement marks an exciting new chapter for our sport as we embark on a collaborative journey towards re-establishing Australian rugby as a leading sport on and off the field. “We look forward to working hand in hand with Raelene and her colleagues at Rugby Australia to help grow the game of rugby in Victoria and beyond with a united approach to drive success from grassroots to the Wallabies. “Rugby Australia deserves to be congratulated on their thorough and calculated recruitment process which has laid the foundation for an exciting future for the sport.” Victorian rugby has never been healthier with record participation growth and revitalised professional environment, led by new Head Coach Dave Wessels. Standing beside us is one of the fastest growing rugby communities in Australia – a sport that enjoyed a 38 per cent increase in participation in 2016, including 78 per cent growth in total female participation. Since the Rebels were established in 2011, Victorian rugby has nearly doubled in size with a 97 per cent boom in participation. The sport’s future is bright in Victoria after statistics, announced on Tuesday by Rugby Australia, highlighted record Game On school participation figures for the state with more than 5,500 children across 41 sites playing rugby. The Melbourne Rebels will kick-off its 2018 Super Rugby campaign at home against the Queensland Reds at AAMI Park on Friday 23 February from 7.30pm (AEDT). Join the Rebel Army for the 2018 Super Rugby with memberships now on sale from as little as $88 for an adult, $35 for children and $218 for a family of four for all eight home games.