Our Culture

The Brumbies first match in the Super Rugby tournament, after gaining admission, was played on 5 March 1996 when the Transvaal from South Africa were defeated by 13-9 at Bruce Stadium in Canberra This victory established another Brumby tradition: the song.

For every victorious Super Rugby match that followed the Brumbies gave the spotlight to any first-game player to lead in the victory rituals of song.

Rod Macqueen, Head Coach of the Brumbies in that first season of Super Rugby, knew there had to be a song.

It was inspiring at the time to set words to ‘Click Go the Shears’. The amazing thing was that no other Australia football team had done it already.

Whilst other teams had pilfered tunes from overseas for their victory dance, the Brumbies turned to an Australian classic, seemingly as old as the hills form which the brumbies came.

Macqueen had asked two of the forwards with musical ability, Peter Besseling and Geoff Didier, to have a crack at the words and match them to the music and what they put together was inspirational.

Then Macqueen had the song professionally recorded to ensure it received the approval of the ACT Board – which it unanimously did. 

There is one line in the song that goes to the heart of what the Brumbies are about and sends a shiver down the spine whenever it is sung:

“proud to be Australian with a Brumby on our chest.”

The tradition of the victory song continues to this day and you can hear the tune played after every winning match at GIO Stadium and, if you’re lucky enough to gain access, in the changing rooms where it’s sung with gusto and pride. 

With considerable thanks to The Brumbies: The Super 12 Years by Michael McKernan

(To the tune of ‘Click Go the Shears’) From the heart of mountain country,

Where the Brumby reigns supreme,

From the country’s capital, there comes a rugby team,

We keep the spirit going, as we stick it to the foe,

And crush the opposition with the final telling blow.

Stick to your gun’s boys, play with pride,

Hit it up the middle then spin the ball out wide,

Standing at the coalface, taking on the best,

Proud to be Australian with a Brumby on our chest. We are the Brumbies, wild and free

Tough and exciting is what we try to be,

We run the ball around on our way to victory,

And they’ll never ever tame us

‘Cause we are the ACT.

Stick to your gun’s boys, play with pride,

Hit it up the middle then spin the ball out wide,

Standing at the coalface, taking on the best,

Proud to be Australian with a Brumby on our Chest.