An open letter to Greg McAweeney, Executive Manager, Rabodirect Australia & New Zealand
Dear Greg,
The Rebel Army would like to formally and gratefully acknowledge the partnership between RaboDirect and the Victorian rugby community.
When the army was established to support the Super Rugby bid, we gathered an eclectic mix of rugby fans bound together by a passion for the game we played or followed either for a lifetime or only a bare few moments.
We were thrilled with the announcement RaboDirect were on board. A global giant with a history of investing in professional sport, with strong ethics and community involvement, your five year deal gave us long term assurances. It meant our team could grow organically, successfully and for the future.
Your association with our team and our sport has had an immediate impact.
The RaboDirect Rebels, our team, in the heart of the world’s sporting capital has become a beacon for a formerly minority sport. VRU players are now showcased in the Rebel Rising, a rejuvenated state side and in the case of the Melbourne Unicorns’ Chris Slade, a spot in the Rebels preseason side.
The generosity of RaboDirect with the membership rewards, seat cushions, umbrellas, keyrings and luggage tags have made Friday nights a lucky dip to look forward to but it is the RaboDirect logo emblazoned upon the breast of the Rebels jersey- the inaugural jersey- that will live on in the minds of supporters and foundation members.
It’s wholly appropriate and poetic that the Rebels’ 5-star pledge and the RaboDirect moniker sit so close together over the hearts of the players and supporters, with shared values on the importance of a strong responsible and supportive community.
Greg, even more than the shared philosophy, we appreciate how you made yourself available to us; on social media and in person at the last game. Your connectedness to the fans is yet another example of the grounded nature of RaboDirect.
It was always clear to see you were inspired by the Rebels’ on field moments as we were; Mortlock’s first and last tries of the season, Cipriani’s golden left boot against the Brumbies or Vuna’s finishing of arguably our best team try against the Hurricanes.
RaboDirect is known for its support of sport, particularly the Rabobank Professional cycling team and the Rabobank PRO 12 Celtic League but it is also renowned for its strong links with community through its co-operative heritage. It is clear that association between RaboDirect and the Melbourne Rebels is strategic partnership with an exciting future, one that RaboDirect, the Melbourne Rebels and the Rebel Army are excited about.
The vision of Harold Mitchell and Rod Macqueen gave us this team but it is the ongoing and generous support of you and RaboDirect that continues to make our team a reality.
The Rebel Army, who cheered and chanted week in and week out offer our full-throated and heartiest thanks for your support in “our” debut season.
On behalf of our members and the RaboDirect Rebels’ fans at large; many, many thanks.
Yours sincerely,
The Rebel Army.
I would also like to extend my thanks to Greg and the team at Rabodirect, coming from a AFL background, i consider myself as the AFL convert of the Rebel Army since nearly everyone else has had some type of envolvement in rugby in one way or another. Coming from AFL it really has surprised me by how a Major Sponsor can be so open and willing to contribute not only to the team/business itself, but to the Fans as well, giving out free gifts and personally making yourself available to us as stated above. I take my hat off to Greg and the team and give me heart felt thanks for it. I cant wait to see what the following seasons will bring for the team thanks to the partnership. Only thing left would be to ask if theres any jobs at Rabodirect?
Thanks!
Cam Boyle