BRUMBIES HEAD TO MAURITIUS FOR WORLD TENS
The Plus500 Brumbies have named a largely developmental squad for the Beachcomber World Club Tens to be played on the weekend of 17-18 June in Mauritius.
Members of this year’s Brumbies U20 squad as well as promising Canberra club players will make the long journey to the beautiful African Island next Tuesday before the tournament starts that weekend.
Former Brumbies prop and current Brumbies U20 forwards coach Ruaidhri Murphy will be travelling with the squad as set-piece coach and game-day manager, alongside Russ Ingram (Pathways Head Coach) and Ben Norcott (Strength and Conditioning Coach).
Despite the youthful look to the team, Murphy says the Brumbies will not be there just to make up the numbers.
“We are going to try and win the tournament,” Murphy said.
“As well as on field success, we hope that the players the Brumbies have nominated in their pathways system will thrive in a testing arena and relish the tour experience.”
“This is an exciting young group. The beauty of the 10’s format is that there is a genuine set piece emphasis as well as free flowing footy.”
It’s also a chance for the budding coach to further his development. After a two-year stint at Irish club, Ulster, Murphy returned to Canberra. Now the owner and operator of Nomad@UC, a popular café on UC Campus, Murphy is using the rest of his time to move up the coaching ladder.
“Being a young coach means that the more environments that I throw myself into, the more I can improve and reflect on my processes and ability to convey information. Being able to be part of the pathways set-up is massively beneficial for my coaching career,” Murphy explained.
“Being back around the Brumbies has felt like a homecoming of sorts. The club meant so much to me as a player and that hasn’t changed.”
“Much like many young players in Canberra want to be part of the Brumbies someday, any young coach should have a goal of being involved at the highest level, as a way of improving their ability and style. Hopefully, this I one of my first steps in that direction.”
Many members of the suad play key roles for their clubs in the John I Dent Cup, and as a member of the Gungahlin Eagles coaching staff, Murphy was sympathetic to the clubs who would be losing players for the trip overseas.
“We obviously hugely appreciate the clubs letting their players join the tour,” Murphy said.
“For the clubs, it would be fair to say it can be difficult to let players go during the season. But, exposure to rugby at this level can only benefit the players going and hopefully, they will bring back with them a new level of knowledge and understanding of the game.”
With Mauritius being so far from home, Murphy may be forced to put on his boots if an injury occurs, although he was much more anxious to see the next generation of Brumbies take the field.
“My coaching style is to get involved with what’s happening. Time will tell if that involves me actually playing.” Murphy laughed.
“What’s more exciting is that the next crop of Brumbies will get their first opportunity to pull on the shirt and represent the Brumbies.”
“That is something I will never forget and I look forward to sharing that with them”.
The Brumbies senior side have secured finals footy this season, in no small part due to their trust in youth. At the World Club 10’s in Mauritius, the Brumbies will hope to find more talented youngsters, who are ready to take the step-up to Super Rugby.
SQUAD
Charlie Hancock (Uni-Norths Owls)
Samuel Thomas (Tuggeranong Vikings)
David Bennett (Uni-Norths Owls)
Angus Wagner (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Oscar Cunningham (Gungahlin Eagles)
Brodie Leber (Westerns Districts Lions)
Darcy Swain (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Joshua Fenner (Queanbeyan Whites)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Sunnybank)
Jackson Duffey (Gungahlin Eagles)
Len Ikitau (Tuggeranong Vikings)
Jamie Kotz (Gungahlin Eagles)
Joshua Turner (Manly)
Ben Johnston (Royals Rugby Club)
Jarrad Butler
Aidan Toua
STAFF
Head Coach: Russell Ingram
Assistant Coach / Manager: Ruaidhri Murphy
Head S&C: Benjamin Norcott
Physiotherapist: Jonathon Carey
FIXTURES
17 June
10:24 – Toyota Cheetahs
14:00 – Vodacom Bulls
17:12 – Tsunami Pryenees
18 June
Knockout Stages
