Super Rugby Side Melbourne Rebels Looking Attractive As Takeover Talks Advance

The consortium poised to buy Super Rugby side Melbourne Rebels will "acquire a much more attractive asset than it would have anticipated purchasing" when negotiations began with the Australian Rugby Union two months ago, according to Bret Harris of THE AUSTRALIAN. The timing of the bid "could not be more perfect for the prime movers in the deal," Imperium Group Owner Andrew Cox and sports entrepreneur Peter Sidwell, a former chairman and majority owner of A-League side Melbourne Heart. The ARU and the Rebels "declined to comment on speculation about the ownership of the loss-making 2011 Super Rugby expansion franchise but negotiations are believed to be at an ­advanced stage." Cox and Sidwell would "no doubt be delighted with the performance of the Rebels, which have won four of their past five games to put themselves in a position to reach the playoffs for the first time" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/15).