The Melbourne Rebels are set to announce the signing of eight players for their squad which will join the Super 15 next year.
The Rebels are now free to begin announcing the signing of players who are currently contracted with other Australian team after an Australian Rugby Union-imposed ban expired at midnight last night.
So far the only player that they have announced is England back Danny Cipriani despite much speculation over a number of players.
The eight players that are expected to be named include prop Laurie Weeks, back-rower Adam Byrnes and half-back Richard Kingi from the Reds along with hooker Adam Freier and academy winger Peter Betham.
Former Western Force and Waratahs forward Tim Davidson, former Waratahs utility back Lachlan Mitchell, who currently plays for London Wasps, and former Reds and Australian number 9 Sam Cordingley, who is playing in France are also expected to be named.
Officials from the Rebels would not comment on the expected announcements but Chief executive Brian Waldron told the Sydney Morning Herald, "We're excited about what's going to unfold in the ensuing days and ensuring weeks."
Rebels coach Rod Macqueen said the core of the squad would be revealed over the coming weeks.
"We're shifting though players with the attributes that we are seeking [and] the next couple of weeks will start to see the nucleus of the team coming together," Macqueen said.
"We didn't expect to get every one we were after, and on the other hand there's been a lot of speculation about players we were after that we actually weren't.
"There's no doubt that at this stage we're reasonably happy with where we are."
