Super Rugby Pacific has produced just about everything in 2025. The competition has never been closer, a season in which anyone truly can beat anyone. Our Brumbies have proved no exception.
After only seven rounds, our boys have seen droughts broken (some more positive than others), landmark victories, and heart stopping finishes. Despite arguably the toughest early season draw in the competition, the Canberrans head into the Bye round sitting 4th on the competition ladder.
So how did we get here? The week-off gives us a chance to reflect on the season so far.
Round 1 – Brumbies 36 def. Drua 32 (HFC Bank Stadium, Suva)
Our Brumbies boarded the plane to Fiji aiming to do something no Aussie side had managed – defeat the Drua in Fiji. In normal circumstances, the visitors may have headed into the match favourites. After all, the Brumbies finished the 2024 season with a 10-2 record, while the Drua recorded 6 wins from 14 games. Those 6 wins, however, all came at home. To further complicate matters, coach Stephen Larkham had decided to rest 5 of his sides Wallabies, with Rob Valentini also on the sideline injured.
The match was the ultimate test of the Brumbies’ depth. At 32-24 down, Brumbies fans were staring down the barrel of a season opening loss. The humid conditions had made ball-handling a serious challenge, which was compounded by the Drua’s skilful outside backs. Then stepped up one Luke Reimer. Reimer’s final 15 minutes in Suva will likely be recalled for years to come. With three pivotal turnovers, on top of two tries of his own, the flanker turned the match upside down. The final score of 36-32 saw the Brumbies become the first Australian side to return from Fiji victorious – a monumental achievement given the calibre of players missing for the ACT side.
Round 2 – Brumbies 42 def. by Force 45 (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
If round 1 produced a victory to be remembered for decades, round 2 provided quite the opposite. In their first home game of the season, with several Wallabies returning to the side, few envisioned the Brumbies tasting defeat at their ‘Fortress’. Unfortunately for Brumbies fans, that is exactly what occurred. A gallant Force side threw up an onslaught of fast, attacking rugby, to which they had few answers. At 21-0 down, the home side appeared to click into gear, re-capturing the lead early in the second half.
It wasn’t to be in the end, as clever game management saw the Western Australians emerge victorious in Canberra – the first time they had done so in 14 years.
Round 3 – Brumbies 34 def. by Chiefs 49 (FMG Stadium, Waikato)
It didn’t get any easier the next week against the table topping Chiefs in Hamilton. The scene of our heartbreaking grand final defeat in 2013 was the stage for a Round 3 crunch match between two of the competition’s heavyweights.
At first glance, the six tries scored by the Brumbies would appear enough to secure victory over just about anyone. The Chiefs, however, ran in six of their own, managing to convert all of them en route to a 15-point victory. The loss left the Brumbies with a 1-2 record, with the ominous prospect of the Blues awaiting them in Auckland the following week. A monumental improvement in defence would be required to have any chance at snapping a 12-year Auckland drought…
Round 4 – Brumbies 21 def. Blues 20 (Eden Park, Auckland)
With only one win in their opening three games, and a losing streak in Auckland dating back to pre-historic times, few gave the Brumbies much hope against the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Champions at Eden Park.
It seems, however, that someone forgot to mention that to the team. Penalties were traded in the opening exchanges, before Beauden Barrett looked to extend the Blues home record with a hand in three quick tries. At 20-10 down, the prospect of a 1-3 start to the year looked like becoming a reality for our boys.
That was before a spirited second half, which saw the Brumbies keep the Blues scoreless, before Ryan Lonergan stepped up to slot the match defining penalty. The result was undoubtedly one of the most memorable in recent history. A 12-year hoodoo vanquished, and our season well and truly back on track.
Round 5 – Brumbies 38 def. Drua 21 (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
A second meeting with the Drua in only 5 weeks saw our Brumbies return home for their second match of the season at GIO Stadium. With Noah Lolesio returning from a round 1 concussion, round 2 of this match-up provided a less anxious watch for Brumbies fans. Len Ikitau – who coach Larkham described as “the best defensive centre in the world” – showcased his versatility in scoring a maiden Super Rugby hattrick. He scored tries in the fashion of a prop, winger, and centre in the rout over the Fijians.
Luke Reimer’s cameo – putting the game beyond doubt – proved the impact he is capable of. Following on from his Round 1 heroics, it would be little surprise if the Fijians begin referring to Reimer as he-who-shall-not-be-named.
Round 6 – Brumbies 23 def. by Waratahs 28 (Allianz Stadium, Sydney)
It’s probably best we forget this one…
In all seriousness, the match against the old enemy lived up to all expectations. It truly re-affirmed the old adage of ‘14th time lucky’. Despite Max Jorgensen batting the ball back in from the Allianz Stadium carpark, the match provided fans with a thrilling climax, as a much-improved Waratahs proved too strong in the end.
The trademark Brumbies rolling maul saw our boys get within a score, however the result will surely make for must-watch rugby when the sides next meet.
Round 7 – Brumbies 34 def. Highlanders 27 (GIO Stadium, Canberra)
Phew.
The Highlanders arrived in Canberra having not won against the Brumbies since 2021. As the last match before the bye – and our final home match for a month – the stakes were high for both sides.
The match was a see-sawing affair, with the home side never truly able to get away from the visitors. It was the Otago men who hit the front in the 65th minute, through a Sam Gilbert penalty. The Brumbies, however, looked to have done enough when Len Ikitau crossed in the 78th minute. A last-minute try to the visitors saw the home supporters watching the final phases of the match through their fingers, before any threat was eventually expelled by the Canberrans.
The result meant that the Brumbies head into this week’s bye sitting pretty in 4th on the competition ladder.
Attention now turns to the rest of the season, which will be defined by clashes against traditional rivals. Next up, Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 12 April.
