Wallabies winger Filipo Daugunu will miss a second game for the Melbourne Rebels on Friday after an unpaid $7000 debt owed to him by the club led to him withdrawing from the team to play against the Queensland Reds last week.

News of Daugunu’s absence comes as the Rebels continue to pursue their demands for funding from Rugby Australia, with the former Super Rugby club board and the governing body locked in meetings on Tuesday.

Daugunu, an elusive outside back with seven caps for Australia, cited “personal reasons” for pulling out of the Rebels’ side for the round-four clash at AAMI Park, which the Reds won 53-26.

Informed sources, who spoke anonymously due to the confidential nature of the matter, said the withdrawal was related to Daugunu being owed $7000 by the Rebels, incurred when he paid for his own relocation costs from Brisbane to Melbourne over summer.

After Daugunu submitted his invoice to the club in January, however, the Rebels were placed in voluntary administration, with debts exceeding $21 million.

Rugby Australia subsequently recontracted Rebels players, coaches and some staff to play the 2024 season, but Daugunu’s relocation costs were deemed to fall under the Rebels’ liabilities, and the Fijian speedster is listed as one of the club’s 47 creditors.

As late as Friday, Daugunu’s camp pressed Rugby Australia to pay him back the $7000, but RA declined, pointing to need for the administration process to play out.

Clause 9.7 of the professional rugby CBA spells out Rugby Australia’s obligation, in the event of a Super Rugby franchise losing its right to field a team, to “assume liability for payments of all amounts due to players who are contracted to the relevant rugby body”, including relocation allowances.

Daugunu returned to training for the Rebels on Tuesday but after missing two training sessions, coach Kevin Foote was unable to consider the 29-year-old for a return to action on Friday night against the unbeaten Hurricanes. The team fly out for Wellington on Wednesday.

“He is back at training and the players were very happy to see him,” Foote said.

“From our perspective it will be great for him to get back on the field. He is just a footballer who wants to play rugby with people he cares about, and the quicker we can do that the better for everyone.”

Rebels captain Rob Leota said: “Obviously ‘Lipo’ (Daugunu) pulled out for personal reasons, that’s what we have been told. And also we know he has been receiving a lot of support.

“For us, we just have to keep going on. It was good to have him back today within our training and execute well, and help us prepare for our game. It was really good having him back and seeing him smile and happy around the group.”

Source: SMH