Melbourne Rebels adamant they can avoid the axe following Super Rugby move

New Zealand Rugby will seek expressions of interest from Australian teams to join a new eight to 10-team competition - boasting all five existing Kiwi sides - to replace Super Rugby in 2021,

Plans to include a Pacific Island outfit means up to three Australian clubs could be cut loose or forced to merge, with Rugby Australia set to meet with their New Zealand counterparts for further clarification next week.

The Rebels are among those potentially on the chopping block if RA backs down from its stance all five Australian clubs have a future in any new competition.

Melbourne chief executive Baden Stephenson, whose club has previously been bandied around as a potential joint venture with the ACT Brumbies, is confident the Victorian team has a future.

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Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson has previously rubbished talks of a merger with Melbourne, with both clubs adamant they can exist alone. However there are concerns about Australia's ability to field five competitive teams in a trans-Tasman league.

"I haven't really bought into or listened to what the Kiwis want. From a Rebels perspective, I'd be very confident we will be in the competition," Stephenson said.

"I think the four existing teams will absolutely be in it, and for the Western Force, there is an opportunity for them to engage.

"I think Rugby Australia are certainly not keen to shrink any further. Clearly we all had some pain and some challenges in the game when we went through that process in 2017.

"It would nice to not have to be merging or cutting. The challenge with uncertainty is one of the hardest emotions to deal with. We had that for six months in 2017 and unfortunately due to COVID, we find ourselves there again.

"I don't think having a standalone domestic competition in Australia or New Zealand is potentially the best option. Ultimately it's Rugby Australia, New Zealand and the broadcaster's decision. We've got an update next week to hopefully shed some light on where the situation is at."

The Rebels are currently based in Canberra for the foreseeable future in their Super Rugby AU campaign having been forced out of Victoria following a major spike in coronavirus cases.

Stephenson says it is likely the club will shift to Terrigal, mirroring the move made by the NRL's New Zealand Warriors, following their match against NSW next week.

The Rebels are set to play their next three matches in Sydney before heading to Queensland to face the Reds in round seven. They have the bye in round eight.

Melbourne's final two fixtures of the season are scheduled as home games, but Stephenson says hopes of a return to Victoria for those "might be wishful thinking".

"When we left we thought we were going for two weeks, that quickly turned into four weeks. With Victoria closing the borders and what has been going on over the past week or so, we've resigned ourselves to the fact it's going to be at least six weeks on the road," Stephenson said. "The key when you're on the road for so long is to get the balance right. We need to be on when we're on for footy, and have some downtime."