The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies are excited to announce Brumby #142 Ben Mowen and Brumby #96 John Ulugia will join the club’s Super Rugby Pacific staff.
Mowen, the Brumbies most-capped captain, took his first steps into coaching after his retirement in 2020 with Easts Rugby Club in Brisbane, the former Wallaby captain having also held roles with the Australian U20s and Japan’s Women’s side during the 2021 Rugby World Cup.
Mowen joins as an assistant coach until the end of 2025 with a focus on defence, breakdown, and lineout.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies assistant coach, Ben Mowen said: “I am very excited to be joining the Brumbies as part of the coaching staff. I feel very indebted to the Brumbies culture for what it gave to me as a footballer, and I hope to deliver that same support and development to this next generation.”
“I have loved being a part of the launch of our semi-professional era at Easts. We have created a lot of momentum and I believe this group has a window of opportunity in the coming seasons with great players and staff to capitalize on that.”
“To link back up with Steve, a bloke I loved being coached by and to return to the great community of Canberra is an exciting opportunity for my family. We have so many great friends in Canberra and some unfinished business from over a decade ago. Knowing what coming up just short in a Super Rugby final feels like, I know I have a unique perspective on what championship minutes feel like and what loops we must close at training to achieve our goal. The responsibility of that is not lost on me.”
Ulugia’s Brumbies career spanned from 2006 to earlier this year where the experienced hooker came out of retirement for round one of Super Rugby.
A veteran of over 200 first-class professional games in Super Rugby and the French Top-14, Ulugia will bring valuable experience and knowledge Scrum coach role for the next two seasons, having already began his coaching journey with the Brumbies academy and the Tuggeranong Vikings.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies scrum coach, John Ulugia said: “I’m grateful to the Brumbies for welcoming me back to the club over the last year or so and I’m excited to continue my development as a coach over the next two years.”
Mowen and Ulugia’s appointment will add to the Brumbies continuity with both having spent time within the Brumbies environment this season, shadowing and working closely with assistant coach Rod Seib and head coach Stephen Larkham.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies head coach, Stephen Larkham said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring in two young and exciting coaches, and two people who know the club and what is expected as a Brumby.”
“Ben’s knowledge of the game and ability to transfer that knowledge as a player was elite, and his transition into coaching post-playing career has been really impressive so we feel he is someone who will only grow in this environment.
“John’s experience as a player speaks for itself. He knows our system, has great respect within our group and has already demonstrated his ability to coach within our academy program, and with our senior group last season.”
