The Brumbies playing in a trial game at Marist College in preparation for the 2025 season. Photo: Jayzie Photography.
The Brumbies start their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Fijian Drua in Suva this Saturday, with the new regime facing its first test.
The ‘regime’ relates to the off-season takeover of the Brumbies by Rugby Australia.
On the surface, little appears to have changed despite promises of a new era, but it’s obvious the Brumbies are operating on the smell of an oily rag.
Local media and social media aside, it seems there has been little promotion of the competition or the Brumbies.
Gone are the days when there was a strong awareness that the season was about to get underway or promotion of the exciting brand of rugby played by the Brumbies.
Most of the focus appears to be on the Waratahs and Joseph Sua’ali’i and speculation around the Wallabies coach.
Dan McKellar, when he was Head Coach at the Brumbies. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
The Waratahs, it has to be said, have a distinctly ‘Brumbies feel’ about them this year with Dan McKellar, Dan Palmer and Lachie McCaffrey on the coaching staff.
They have also been significantly bolstered by the allocation of former Rebels players Taniela Tupou, Andrew Kellaway and Darby Lancaster.
Like the Brumbies, the Waratahs are under the control of Rugby Australia.
Meanwhile, in the lead-up to the season, the Brumbies have been quietly going about their business with fan days and strong community engagement with trial matches in Bowral and at Marist College.
The Brumbies’ commitment to the Canberra rugby community is not in question. But beyond the rusted-on loyal fans, does widespread awareness of the team and the competition exist?
In comparison, there is genuine awareness and excitement in the Canberra community around the Raiders’ foray to Las Vegas.
The Brumbies deserve recognition. Their team features superstars such as Rob Valetini, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright, as well as the excitement machine Corey Toole.
The natural instinct to attack is what endears this side to the wider rugby world, although it’s not always appreciated in Australia.
I have every faith that the Brumbies will again rise to the occasion and be the leading Australian team.
Many, though, will be watching closely to ensure Rugby Australia evenly distributes resources across both franchises.
My gut feeling is that the odds again appear to be stacked against the Brumbies, just as they were when the side came into the competition under the shadow of the more fancied Waratahs.
But the Brumbies have shown a capacity, time and time again, to put any distractions, such as the future of the club in the past season, to one side to be the dominant Australian team.
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