The Melbourne Rebels are excited to announce their latest player signings, with Jake Strachan and Ethan Dobbins committing to the Club.
The duo have penned a one-year and two-year-deal respectively and will help bolster the Rebels playing depth ahead of the fast approaching 2024 Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific season. Hailing from Brisbane, Strachan began his senior career playing for Brisbane City in the NRC alongside current Rebels Sam Talakai and Tuaina Taii Tualima.
In 2019, the versatile back journeyed West, playing under current Rebels Assistant Coach Tim Sampson at the Western Force, where Strachan would go on to make four Super Rugby AU appearances in his maiden season.
Over the next three seasons, Strachan would play 28 matches for the Force, scoring 48 points.
At just twenty-six-years-old with his best rugby still ahead of him, Strachan said he was excited for the next chapter and to be part of a playing style that complimented his game.
“I think the Rebels are building something special down in Melbourne,” said Strachan.
“They’ve built a great squad with a strong coaching staff, so I’m looking forward to learning and growing my game and doing my job as best as I can for the team.”
“I’ve really enjoyed watching the Rebels from afar - they play a fast, expansive, attacking playing style and that’s exactly how I like to play my footy, so I’m super pumped to get to Melbourne and get stuck in.”
Joining Strachan is the powerfully built Ethan Dobbins, who signs with the Rebels having trained with the Club during last year’s pre-season campaign.
Dobbins joins the Rebels sporting a winning pedigree, having been an integral member of a Wests Bulldogs program that has reached the Hospital Challenge Cup Final the past two seasons, including last year’s historic win over the University of Queensland.
In 2021, the talented hooker was presented the prestigious Bob Wood Trophy, awarded for the Wests Senior Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of Rebels alumni Angus Cottrell and Scott Higginbotham.
Dobbins addition further strengthens the Rebels TWI strategy, having built invaluable on-field chemistry with Rebels Zac Hough, Mason Gordon, Daniel Maiava and David Vaihu, Cabous Eloff, Angelo Smith and Glen Vaihu.
“Joining the Rebels was an easy decision for me,” said Dobbins. “After coming down last December and meeting the players and coaches, I’m more than confident that this is the best environment for me to thrive in.
“I believe the relationships I’ve formed with a number of the Rebels’ boys at Wests through the years will only add to the brotherhood and culture I’m hoping to be a part of at the Rebels next year.
“I love the City of Melbourne and the culture the Rebels are building coming into 2024, so I can’t wait to get started.”
Melbourne Rebels GM of Rugby, Nick Stiles, said the Club was thrilled by today’s signings.
“Our Club is delighted to welcome Ethan and Jake into the Rebels family,” said Stiles. “Both men are outstanding workers and high character people, who embody our Club’s values of selflessness off the field and fight and fearlessness on it.
“Jake will bring invaluable Super Rugby experience to our squad, while Ethan is already well connected with our team having played Club rugby with a number of our players.
“We’re really excited to have both players in Melbourne - they’ll offer a lot to our environment and will play an important role in the Melbourne Rebels reaching new heights in 2024.”
