Talented fullback Tom Banks has committed his future to the Plus500 Brumbies and Australian rugby by signing a contract extension through to the end of the 2022.
Banks, who became the latest Brumby to achieve full international honours when he debuted against the All Blacks in Auckland last year, has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks to become one of the most dangerous attacking weapons in the Southern Hemisphere.
“I am very pleased to be able to recommit to the Brumbies and to Australian rugby by signing this new deal,” Banks said. “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time in Canberra since making the move from Queensland and feel like I have settled nicely into the welcoming Brumbies rugby family.
“We ended the 2018 season in good form and I am looking forward to a big 2019 Super Rugby campaign and beyond with Dan McKellar and the Brumbies staff. I love playing in Canberra and in front of our loyal fan base and am excited by what is to come.”
A product of Brisbane Boy’s College, Banks made the move to the Brumbies prior to the start of the 2017 Super Rugby season after impressing in the National Rugby Championship that year.
Banks continued to impress after he made his debut for the Brumbies against the Reds in Brisbane and he has since gone on to make 28 Super Rugby appearances with a decent strike rate of twelve tries. Banks top-scored for the Brumbies in their 2018 campaign with nine tries, the most by a Brumby since Stirling Mortlock achieved the same number in 2006.
“We are very pleased to have Banksy re-commit to the Brumbies,” Head Coach Dan McKellar commented. “He had a breakthrough year last year on the back of his debut season in 2017 and is a very good player who still has an enormous amount of growth in his game. We are excited to have Tom here for the next four years.
“He’s got very good natural instincts and, he sees space well. He works hard off the ball and wants to be in the game. Toms talent, ability and vision are complimented by his genuine speed and these qualities make him an important player to us.”
Banks crowned a memorable 2018 season by receiving the club’s Best Back award at the Brett Robinson Awards Night in August and subsequently earned selection for the Wallabies Spring Tour to Europe.
You can see Tom and his teammates as the Plus500 Brumbies begin their 2019 Super Rugby campaign with a home match against the Rebels at GIO Stadium on Friday 15 February 2019.Prior to that the team will meet the Rebels in a trial match at Viking Park, Erindale, at 6.30pm on Saturday 26 January.
Entry to this match is free. The team will then play a second trial match against the Waratahs in Goulburn at 6.30pm on Thursday 7 February, with free entry to Brumbies and Waratahs members, and under 18’s.
Stats
Position: Outside Back
DOB: 18/6/1994 (age: 24)
Birthplace: Brisbane, QLD
Height: 186cm
Weight: 93kg
School: Brisbane Boys’ College, Brisbane,QLD
Brumby Number: 193
Brumbies Debut: 2017 v Reds, Brisbane
Super Rugby Caps: 28
Super Rugby Points: 60 (12T)
2018 Appearances: 16
2018 Points: 45 (9T)
ACT Club: Uni-Norths Owls
Wallaby Number: 924
Test Debut: 2018 v New Zealand, Auckland
Test Caps: 3
