Rebels coach's job up for grabs

Sydney - Melbourne Rebels coach Damien Hill has been asked to re-apply for his Super Rugby position with his contract up at the end of the season, the club said on Monday.

Sweeping changes are under way at the struggling Australian Super Rugby club with the resignation on Monday of chief executive Steve Boland and the appointment of retired Rebels scrum-half Sam Cordingley to a newly-created role of rugby general manager.

Boland will finish up at the end of this month after 18 months in the role following his elevation from deputy CEO.

The Rebels have won only two matches from eight so far this season and there has also been off-field problems resulting in the indefinite suspension of Wallabies fly-half Kurtley Beale.

While Hill said he was interested in staying on at the Rebels, he was yet to make a final decision on his future.

"The players and the whole organisation have worked very hard to date and there's a lot more to do," Hill told the Australian Associated Press.

"We lost around 700 caps of combined Super and Test rugby with the roster changes for this year so we knew there were going to be challenges.

"However we're injecting youth for the long-term development of the club.

"We continue to build in certain areas but we let ourselves down in others and that's why the performances aren't leading to those wins."

The Rebels also confirmed Monday the signing of former Wallabies scrum-half Luke Burgess, who will be returning home after the French club season with Toulouse.