A $20 million package from the Victorian government to the ARU, securing Bledisloe Cup and British and Irish Lions Test matches in Melbourne over an eight-to-10-year period, guaranteed the future of the Rebels in the SANZAAR competition.
The protracted negotiations between the Victorian government and the ARU, where approximately one-quarter of the funding will pass to the Rebels, ensured the Melbourne team would always be chosen by the ARU, ahead of Perth's Western Force, as the Australian team to be retained in the SANZAAR competition.
No top international team comes to an Australian capital city without some investment from a state government, meaning the withdrawal of funding from the Victorian government would have entrenched rugby union forever as the fourth football code in the country.
The financial package was secured by Premier Daniel Andrews, Treasurer Tim Pallas and Sports Minister John Eren.
Pallas, who was largely instrumental in building AAMI Park, Melbourne's rectangular facility used by the Storm, Rebels and A-League teams, Victory and City, was determined to retain the city's reputation as the sporting capital of Australia.
The money stays in the state, with a development centre and rectangular fields for junior teams built in conjunction with La Trobe University.
The Rebels survival is also a victory for a small group of Melbourne men who were attracted to the game via their sons playing rugby.
The group, led by VRU president Tim North SC, approached long-term benefactors for funds to purchase the Rebels licence from holder, Melbourne businessman, Andrew Cox.
When Cox, disappointed by the Rebels' on-field performance and stressed by some of his other investments, was satisfied with his exit package, he then sold the licence for a debt-free club to the VRU for $1.
The timing, along with the ARU's need to invest in grassroots and its near bankruptcy, together with its commitment to SANZAAR to cull an Australian team, was therefore a perfect storm for the Melbourne group to get their game back.
But not so perfect for the Storm who continue to have a professional rugby rival in the Victorian capital.
The ARU's claim to have been blindsided by the news of the sale of the Rebels to the VRU is also at odds with the documentation around the licence.
The ARU signed off on the option for the sale of the club to the VRU and had effectively already consented to the transaction.
Furthermore, because the Rebels were never in breach of the licence, particularly in a financial sense, they could never be legally stripped of it.
While the licence holder is Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union Limited, the company is owned by the VRU.
This, therefore, guarantees two votes at ARU board meetings – one for the Rebels and another for the VRU.
Previously, West Australian-based board member Geoff Stooke, represented the non-traditional rugby union states at meetings.
Compared to the A-League, where clubs are demanding representation on the FFA board, North and his allies have further consolidated victory.
Sadly, for the Western Force, it is the only team left in the cold from the SANZAAR restructure from 18 teams to 15.
The two South African teams culled have joined a European competition of 12 other teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, now called Pro 14.
The Victorian government was also aware the Melbourne Rebels were strategically named, the only SANZAAR team to insist a geographical place name be included in their title.
While NSW fans know the Waratahs are based in Sydney, who can recite the homes of the Sharks, Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders?
The massive uplift in broadcasting revenue that led SANZAAR to over expand to 18, bringing in teams from Japan and Argentina, was reflected in the big audiences in England and Europe watching southern hemisphere games.
But viewers could only be certain of the home of one team, the Melbourne Rebels, a clear winner for Visit Victoria.
It is now the VRU's responsibility to ensure their team, which won a single game in the 2017 season, remains financially viable and competitive.
The club received an initial $6m investment from the ARU when they were invited to participate in the 2011 season, a further $8m from previous owner, Harold Mitchell, and Cox's contribution.
It is the ARU's responsibility to honour its commitment to schedule top international matches in Melbourne and win back the capacity MCG crowds of the late 1990s.