Quade Cooper is to start at fly-half for the Rebels opening game of the season against the Brumbies this weekend.
It will be the first time that scrum-half Will Genia and Cooper will partner up for the Melbourne side.
Cooper is one of five new faces in the Rebels side, with former Brumbies players Isi Naisarani and Robbie Abel, starting at No 8 and on the bench respectively.
While the list is rounded off by Matt Gibbon and Brad Wilkin who take seats on the bench along with Abel.
Luke Jones comes back into the team after three year’s away at Bordeaux, to earn his 73rd cap for the Rebels.
Team Announcement | Melbourne, here is your side which will face @BrumbiesRugby in Canberra this Friday night at GIO Stadium!#HelloMelbourne #WeAreRugby pic.twitter.com/GWFJM9OSDm
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) February 13, 2025
Head coach Dave Wessels has told the media of his delight in getting the new season underway.
“It’s obviously exciting to get underway but going up to Canberra, it’s not an easy challenge,” he said.
“We’ve got to turn up. We’ve done a great job of keeping everything simple and how we compete every day and get a little bit better, all of the players have really bought into that,” he added.
The two sides faced off in a pre-season
game in January with the Brumbies running out 52-38 winners, but Wessel doesn’t
make much of the outcome.
“A couple of our players didn’t play in it and a couple of their players didn’t play in it too,” he said.
“Everyone holds everything back during the trials, so you don’t get much of a read, but we are ready for the challenge,” he finished.
The two teams were much different last month and with the likes of Cooper coming into the team the result could be even closer this time around.
The Brumbies have also named a very strong that includes David Pocock who has been in the news lately regarding his privately topped up salary.
