The Melbourne Rebels have a controversial summer clean out at the expense of O'Connor and Beale

Just as James O'Connor's try before half time against the Lions in the third test was not enough to secure a win for the Wallabies, the fly-half's recent performance on and off the field for the Melbourne Rebels was not enough to prevent him from being let go by his team. 

The Melbourne Rebels did not offer the fullback a chance to renew his Super Rugby contract for the 2013/14 season after O'Connor's questionable off the field behaviour. Newly elected Australian head coach, Ewen McKenzie, also hinted that he would most likely consider other players for O'Connor's position if the 23 year is not "prepared to participate in the growth of the game 24/7." He adds "I'm more interested in understanding who's next? Who's out there? There are some players out there we haven't seen yet, who are interesting." A wake up call for O'Connor? Most definitely. 

Having been confident that the Rebels would offer him a contract renewal, O'Connor has now been left in No Man's Land with most of the provincial sides having already decided on their squad's for the coming season and with very little, if any, money left to buy new players as a result of the wage-cap. The Brumbies, Waratahs and Reds have already made it very clear that they have no interest in signing the troubled player. Will this mean that the Wallaby will have to move to Europe or join players such as Shane Williams and Sonny Bill Williams in Japan? If the player's talks with Western Force come to nothing then by the end of this week he might have to venture overseas in order to pursue his rugby career. 

His fellow international and Rebels player, Kurtley Beale, has also been left in the wilderness after being dropped for similar reasons by his former Melbourne team. Although, Beale's manager, Isaac Moses, strongly argues that the Super Rugby side had announced the termination of the player's contract after Beale had decided to leave the club on his own terms. Even if this is true, there is no denying that the player has not had the best of times off the field in recent months. 

Having been suspended and after taking time off from rugby to allow him to enter rehabilitation for his alcohol problem, his 2012/13 Super Rugby season had run far from smoothly. Three months ago the 24 year old fullback was suspended by the Rebels for fighting with fellow players on the team bus and for drinking after a game. 

"Whilst Kurtley has been a valuable and popular player for the Rebels over the last two years, it is no secret that he has been facing some significant personal challenges," Rebels' chief executive Rob Clarke stated. 

Beale was let go by the club only a few days after the Rebels announced the departure of O'Connor. Both of these players were photographed in a fast food restaurant in the early hours of the morning in the lead up to Australia's second encounter with the 2013 British and Irish Lions. 

Unlike O'Connor, Beale still has some doors open to him. The New South Wales Waratahs have expressed their interest in the fullback and have left the door open for him if he wishes to join them for the next Super Rugby season. 

O'Connor and Beale have suffered at the hands of the Rebel's summer clean out as the side also terminated the contracts of Welshman and captain, Gareth Delve, as well as international backs, Nick Phipps and Cooper Vuna.

"The Melbourne Rebels have announced some major changes in recent weeks, signifying a strong intention to elevate the performance of the organisation and build a sustainable winning culture both on and off the field," explained the chief executive of the Rebels 

Very bold and controversial decisions have been made by the Rebels. Will they benefit the side going in to the 2013/14 Super Rugby season? We will have to wait and see. 

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