The Melbourne Rebels have allocated every contracted player to a local Victorian club for of the 2016 season in the hope of strengthening the link between the Dewar Shield competition and the Super Rugby franchise. The players roles will vary and include both on and off field commitments throughout the season. “The Dewar Shield teams are really keen to build on the existing strong foundations, alignment and engagement with the Rebels so there are some exciting times ahead,” Rebels Operations manager Baden Stephenson said. Representatives from all nine Dewar Shield clubs were invited to spend the morning with Rebels players and coaching staff at IKON Park earlier this week, joining the squad in a team meeting and training session. “It’s extremely important to have this strong connection as the professional game can’t succeed without that community base,” Stephenson said. “We’ve got some great junior clubs and Dewar Shield clubs in Melbourne that are vital for g