The Rebels will be without the services of Fijian-born Wallaby Filipo Daugunu for Melbourne’s Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific clash with the table-topping Hurricanes despite returning to training after sitting out the last round over a pay dispute.
The outside back was a late withdrawal last Friday against his former team Queensland due to an outstanding relocation fee owed by the club.
The debt wasn’t settled before the Rebels went into voluntary administration and while Rugby Australia have guaranteed the players’ contracts this season and put the coaches on short-term deals, this payment falls outside of that.
Daugunu, who played for Australia A last year and has seven Test caps, was back at training on Tuesday but too late to be considered for the Hurricanes match in Palmerston North, with the team departing Wednesday.
Rebels coach Kevin Foote says it is between Daugunu, his agent and Rugby Australia and they’ve been trying to work it out.
Foote says Filipo actually came to training today which is great – he is not up for selection this week because it’s too late as they have already finished their training week but just to have him back is very pleasing for them.
The Rebels are currently seventh with two wins and two losses with Foote and his assistant coaches trying to keep the distraction of an uncertain future at bay.
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh said on Monday the decision on the survival of the club was taking longer than he would have liked.
Foote says no news is not good news in this scenario because you actually start living in the future and that’s not good either.
Foote, who was re-signed on a four-month deal when RA took over the club in the pre-season says there is only three pay cheques left and when you think about that it’s very concerning.
The Rebels coach says the last thing he wants is that they tell us that they are not going to be around because then there could be a mass exodus or people thinking about jumping off.
The Rebels play the Hurricanes at 6.05pm Friday.
Source: Rugbypass
