The Melbourne Rebels are adamant their future in Super Rugby is secure after confirming owner Andrew Cox has sold the franchise's license to the Victorian Rugby Union.

Former Waratah had an excellent Super Rugby final and looks made for Test rugby.

Casual observers might be looking for the form guide to get their head around some of the new faces in Michael Cheika's squad for The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup.

The Melbourne Rebels will now be controlled by the Victorian Rugby Union leaving the Australian Rugby Union unsure of how it can cut a team from next year's Super Rugby competition.

The new Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has a big task but let's debunk the notion his place is under jeopardy when David Pocock returns.

Businessman Andrew Cox is believed to have relinquished control of the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby franchise.

• COMMENT

When they should be thinking about deterrence, codes have become obsessed with effect. It's dangerous.

• UPDATED

Independent committee came to the conclusion that an All Blacks training fixture against two provincial teams would count towards ban.

Michael Cheika says leaving ACT Brumbies captain Sam Carter out of his Wallabies squad was the toughest decision he had to make.

• COMMENT

Super Rugby is in the midst of a massive overhaul, and before that model is in place, it needs another massive overhaul.

​Wallabies lock Adam Coleman has committed to the Western Force for the next two years, but he faces a nervous wait to see if the franchise will even exist.

Bernard Foley is the only specialist No.10 in the Wallabies squad. But he doesn't expect to be wrapped in cotton wool.

Halfback Nick Phipps says Michael Cheika has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Brumbies playmaker Nick Jooste wants to leave his mark on Canberra by chasing a John I Dent Cup premiership.

• COMMENT

Some codes have travelled so far down the corporate path, they are too business-oriented to be called a sport.

Three years ago Michael Hooper was 22, a fill-in captain of the Wallabies and barking orders at senior players, some of whom were a decade older than him.

Returning Wallabies captain Michael Hooper says he was surprised by the news of his full-time appointment and wants to create a team culture where players are "willing to die to get the job done".

Michael Hooper has been confirmed as the Wallabies' new captain.

South Africa's Cheetahs and Southern Kings will join an expanded northern hemisphere PRO14 competition for the new season, Celtic Rugby said on Tuesday.