New Rebel with cause

A TWO-year deal to fire up the Melbourne Rebels is being finalised for Adam Coleman, who can highlight his worth to the Wallabies with a rousing display against world rugby’s most experienced Test lock in Cardiff.

The coup will be preceded by a drum roll to announce fellow Wallabies lock Matt Philip as another Rebels signing.

Coleman, 26, is a player of intense and singular focus so this week is aimed at an influential display against Welsh pack leader Alun Wyn Jones in the Test at Millennium Stadium early on Sunday.

Signing Coleman and Philip will transform the Rebels pack that will feed a Wallaby halfback Will Genia and former Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty now on board.

The dismantling of the Force player list is a painful reminder of the Perth club’s demise but Melbourne is quickly building an outfit capable of contending for next year’s finals. Coleman smiled when asked yet again if he had selected a club.

“It was good to see Dane and his brother [Ross] sticking together by going to Melbourne,” Coleman said. “My decision is almost made I think. For me, I just want to really focus on this spring tour.”

Rebels coach Dave Wessels would give no hint on forward signings but did reveal NSW Country Eagles fiveeighth Tayler Adams, the 2017 Ken Catchpole Medal-winner from Sydney’s West Harbour club, had joined.

Coleman is excited about his return to Millennium Stadium where a crowd of more than 60,000 is expected to be roaring for Wales.

“Last year was my first time on the spring tour and experiencing Millennium Stadium, the crowd and the atmosphere of a great occasion,” he said of a strong 32-8 memory.

“Wales are a very physical side. We know they’re going to try to take us upfront in the set-piece area and we’ll be up for it.”