The touring Melbourne Rebels are in crisis mode as they investigate an “incident” between players following their franchise record 10-try, 64-7 Super Rugby defeat by the Sharks in Durban.

Rebels media manager Adam Freier issued a statement on the matter on Sunday afternoon but indicated the club would not name the players until it had been dealt with.

“The Melbourne Rebels would like to respond to reports of an incident between players following the team’s bus trip home to their hotel in Umhlanga,” said the statement.

“The club is treating this matter as serious and a full internal investigation has begun with the players involved.

“Therefore, the club cannot provide any further comment until the internal investigation is completed.

“No other parties were involved.”

Earlier, Rebels coach Damien Hill had questioned his players’ pride in their jersey following their humiliating defeat early on Sunday AEDT.

The squad had travelled to South Africa confident of cracking their first-ever win abroad but instead they copped a hiding surpassing their previous biggest defeat of 53-3 by the Queensland Reds in their first year in the competition in 2011.

“Our guys just didn’t show up and it’s quite embarrassing to be honest,” said Hill, with his team 13th on the ladder with one win for the season.

“It’s probably the worst defeat I’ve ever been associated with through the club and I’m really questioning the pride these guys have in the jersey.

“Even though it’s a new team, you’ve got to be prepared to leave blood on the field when you’re playing a team like the Sharks and our guys didn’t.

In their third season, the new team excuse is wearing thin and their sorry tally of 19 turnovers and 31 missed tackles told the story of an abject defeat by a Sharks team bristling after being humbled by the Brumbies a week earlier.