Rebels announce warm up against Highlanders

Melbourne Super Rugby franchise the Rebels have announced that they will hold a warm up match for the 2015 Super Rugby season against the Highlanders at Quins.

It is the first occasion in which the Rebels have played against another Super Rugby team at a Dewar Shield Club, and will see New Zealand’s Highlanders visit Harlequin Rugby Club on Thursday February 5th.

With the Rebels to begin their Super Rugby campaign against the Crusaders on Friday February 13th, the trial game will be the final hit out for the Rebels before they travel to Christchurch to take on the seven-time Super Rugby champions.

Baden Stephenson, Rebels’ General Manager of Rugby Operations, said he was looking forward to welcoming the Highlanders to the home of the 2013 and 2014 Dewar Shield champions.

“We are committed to continuing the growth of the community game in Victoria and bringing the Rebels closer to the people who put so much time into developing Rugby in this state,” Stephenson said.

“We have seen record numbers of Rebels playing in the Dewar Shield in 2014, and the standard of the competition continues to lift. On this significant occasion for Victorian Rugby, we are looking forward to seeing a big crowd getting ‘vocal at their local’ to support the Rebels against a quality Highlanders side with plenty of international representatives.”

Harlequin Rugby Club President Conway Taylor believes the game represents a wonderful opportunity to showcase international talent on a local Club stage.

“This announcement shows the progress that has been made since the Rebels inception, and the continued bonds between the Club and the community game here in Victoria,” Taylor said.

“As a Club, we think it is a fantastic opportunity and I need to recognise the wonderful support we have had from the Monash City Council who have put in significant resources with people and finances to make our ground the best Rugby facility in Victoria, and therefore the ground of choice for the Rebels on this occasion.”

Taylor paid tribute to a growing partnership between the Rebels and Harlequin, and said he was confident a strong crowd would come out and watch the game.

“Our relationship with the Rebels is one both parties have worked extremely hard to get to where it is now, and we’re delighted with the number of people at Harlequin who we have involved with the Melbourne Rising and Rebels,” he said.

“It’s important that the whole Victorian Rugby community gets behind this game; we’re looking forward to the sun shining, the drinks being cold and everybody enjoying a wonderful day.”