The Melbourne Rebels have signed former England lock Geoff Parling for the 2018 Super Rugby season despite their future in the competition being unclear.

The 33-year-old former British & Irish Lions lock is the Rebels’ first signing since the ARU lifted the moratorium on player contracting and signals the club’s intent to remain in the competition.

Parling’s acquisition follows Sunday’s announcement that the club’s General Manager of Football Operations Baden Stephenson had been promoted to the role of chief executive.