Home is where the heart is: Uelese re-signs with the Rebels

Tue, Jun 7, 2022, 11:45 PM
Rebels Media
by Rebels Media
Uelese will now remain a Melbourne Rebel until at least the end of 2023, joining James Tuttle, Carter Gordon, Brad Wilkin, and front-row partner, Cabous Eloff, in re-committing with the Rebels.
Uelese will now remain a Melbourne Rebel until at least the end of 2023, joining James Tuttle, Carter Gordon, Brad Wilkin, and front-row partner, Cabous Eloff, in re-committing with the Rebels.

The Melbourne Rebels continue to bolster their forward stocks, with homegrown Rebel Jordan Uelese re-signing with the Club today.

Uelese will now remain a Melbourne Rebel until at least the end of 2023, joining James Tuttle, Carter Gordon, Brad Wilkin, and front-row partner, Cabous Eloff, in re-committing with the Rebels.

A proud product of the Victorian Rugby development system, Uelese first arrived at The Stockade in 2017, going on to play three games in his maiden Super Rugby season.

Later that year, an impressive World Rugby Under-20’s Championship campaign led to the twenty-year-old winning selection in the Wallabies squad for The Rugby Championship, where Uelese played two matches in his debut international season.

The powerfully built hooker has since accumulated 15 Test Caps for Australia including playing at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, while making 45 appearances for his hometown Rebels, becoming a valuable leader both on and off the field for the next generation of Victorian Rebels.

Uelese said he’s thrilled to continue representing his home city and playing at AAMI Park in front of friends and family, in what shapes as an exciting period for Victorian Rugby.

“Home is where the heart is, so to be able to do what I love here in my home city with my best mates is a blessing,” said Uelese.

“As a kid, I always dreamt of playing for the Rebels, so to be able to play and wear that jersey is a huge honour and I’m keen to keep putting my hand up to go to battle for this Club.

“I can see our Club going to another level next year and I want to be around to help build some success and push for a finals berth.

“To see more Victorian-bred players is awesome and I know with the talent here there will be many more which makes me so proud, and I want to be around to help see them grow and achieve the dreams that I have.”

Melbourne Rebels GM of Rugby, Nick Stiles, said it was fantastic news to retain another local star.

“Jordan’s contract extension is great news for the Melbourne Rebels and our Victorian Rugby community,” said Stiles.

“Jordan’s growth as both a player and person has been a pleasure to watch and the impact he makes off the field, mentoring our next generation and helping build up our pathway players, is really important to what we’re trying to achieve as an organisation.

“We’re extremely proud of our homegrown players, so to retain them, and to continue to see them grow as players wearing a Rebels’ jersey, it’s great news for our Club.”

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