Melbourne Rebels ditched by Super Rugby over financial woes

Australian Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels have been dropped from the competition due to financial difficulties.

The Rebels have been in voluntary administration since January and Rugby Australia confirmed on Thursday it had not accepted a proposal from a consortium to take over the club’s licence from 2025.

Staff and players were told of the decision before flying to Fiji for their final regular-season match on Saturday.

The Rebels, who lie seventh in the table, have reached the playoffs for the first time since being founded in 2011.