The ACT Brumbies have confirmed their side for a Round 11 meeting with the Hurricanes that carries significance well beyond rugby. Played on ANZAC Day, the fixture offers a shared stage for Australia and New Zealand to reflect on a common history, and to pay respect to the brave women and men of the Australian Defence Force.
Speaking at the Australian War Memorial, Head Coach Stephen Larkham named his team for the occasion, making considered adjustments ahead of a fixture that sits in a category of its own within the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season.
Set within Super Round in Christchurch, Larkham has called on Andy Muirhead and Rory Scott to deliver on the big stage, elevating the tried and tested duo from the reserves into the starting XV.
Muirhead returns to the wing carrying a body of work defined by grit and work rate. With 94 carries for 549 metres this season, he has established himself as one of the competition’s leading metre eaters. In a match expected to go deep into the final moments, reliability and a never say die attitude will be invaluable.
Scott resumes at open-side flanker with a clear brief, tackle anything in black and yellow. His 97 tackles in 2026 underline his defensive importance, and he will play a key role in quelling the Hurricanes attack.
The reshuffle sees Ollie Sapsford move into a multi-purpose role among the finishers, while Luke Reimer is retained as a late game catalyst, reinforcing the sense this match may be decided in the closing stages.
This fixture is framed by remembrance as much as rivalry. The Brumbies will take the field in their 2026 ANZAC commemorative jersey, a uniform designed to acknowledge and pay tribute to service, sacrifice, and the shared history of Australia and New Zealand.
In this year marking the 110th anniversary of ANZAC Day, the jersey carries the Rising Sun badge of the Australian Army, the unifying emblem traditionally worn on the left-side of the Army slouch hat. Its presence is a reminder that this is an occasion that extends beyond rugby.
The Brumbies and Hurricanes will contest the Captain Shout Cup, an annual trophy embedded within the Super Rugby Pacific season structure. Named in honour of Captain Alfred Shout VC MC, a Gallipoli figure with ties to both nations, the cup stands as a symbol of shared service across Australia and New Zealand, and the respectful rivalry between the two capital franchises.
On Wednesday, Stephen Larkham addressed media at the War Memorial before placing a poppy beside Captain Shout’s name on the Roll of Honour, an act that reflected the tone of the week.
Now, with the side confirmed and Christchurch awaiting, the Brumbies are primed for a contest befitting the occasion.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
