The ACT Brumbies have confirmed their 36 man squad for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific, with 27 of the group returning from last season.
Flyhalf Jack Debreczeni, centre Tamati Tua and outside-back Ben O’Donnell are the three new faces to Stephen Larkham’s squad, with six Brumbies pathways products being promoted into the club’s senior squad.
23 players total have graduated through the Brumbies pathways program, with Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead, Ollie Sapsford and Ed Kennedy also having made their Super Rugby debuts in ACT colours.
The group includes 17 capped Wallabies, two Australian captains in James Slipper and incumbent ACT skipper and reigning Brett Robinson Player’s Player of the year Allan Alaalatoa, as well as two Australian Sevens internationals Corey Toole and Ben O’Donnell.
Of the 17 Wallabies in the group, only Slipper and centre Chris Feauai-Sautia joined the Brumbies having already represented Australia at senior level, with Wright and lock Cadeyrn Neville the two players to have not come through the Brumbies pathways program.
A further four players represented Australia A this year, with ACT local Ryan Lonergan also captaining the side from halfback.
ACT Brumbies head coach, Stephen Larkham said: “We’re really pleased with the makeup of the squad and it’s great to have the majority of the group returning including the six pathways boys who all trained full-time last season.”
“When you look at the squad, there’s genuine competition for places and depth in key positions, so everyone will need to earn selection week to week which is what you need to be successful.
“We want this group to belong to our ACT community, we want to make heroes out of these players and I think with the broad range of backgrounds, the journeys these players have been on to be at our club, it’s a squad that we believe the capital region will get behind.”
2023 ACT BRUMBIES SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC SQUAD
Prop
Allan Alaalatoa
Fred Kaihea
Sefo Kautai
Tom Ross
James Slipper
Harry Vella
Hooker
Billy Pollard
Lachlan Lonergan
Connal McInerney
Lock
Nick Frost
Tom Hooper
Cadeyrn Neville
Darcy Swain
Backrow
Jahrome Brown
Charlie Cale
Ed Kennedy
Luke Reimer
Rory Scott
Pete Samu
Rob Valetini
Halfback
Ryan Lonergan
Klayton Thorn
Nic White
Flyhalf
Jack Debreczeni
Noah Lolesio
Nathan Carroll
Centre
Hudson Creighton
Chris Feauai-Sautia
Len Ikitau
Ollie Sapsford
Tamati Tua
Outside-back
Declan Meredith
Jesse Mogg
Andy Muirhead
Ben O’Donnell
Corey Toole
Tom Wright
