Melbourne Rebels assistant Morgan Turinui has blasted the Australian Rugby Union and also the Players’ Association (RUPA) over the drawn out efforts to axe an Australian Super Rugby team, saying his players are suffering psychologically.

Former Wallaby Turinui says Rebels players, as well as staff, were reassured by their owner Andrew Cox of their future in the competition and the continuing rumours that they are the club expected to be culled are “debilitating”and he fears for some players’ mental health.

Turinui said he still believed Cox’s guarantee that he wouldn’t sell the Super Rugby license back to the ARU if they were going to close the Rebels down.