The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies have confirmed their squad for their opening Super Rugby AUS fixture against the Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday (3pm kick-off AEST).
Four players will make their first appearance for the Brumbies at senior level in Harvey Cordukes, Toby Macpherson, Jarrah McLeod and Louis Bartley-Saena.
Five who started against the British & Irish Lions in July at GIO Stadium, our previous competitive fixture, retain their place in the shape of Lington Ieli, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Shaw, Declan Meredith and Ollie Sapsford.
Head coach Stephen Larkham was looking forward to pitting his mixture of youth and experience against the Brisbane-based outfit.
“We’re really happy with where we are at as a team and we’re looking forward to the challenge of facing the Reds,” Larkham said.
“Super Rugby AUS represents a massive opportunity for players across the group and for different reasons.
“That is reflected in our squad to take on the Reds. There is a handful of guys putting their hands up for selection for our Super Rugby Pacific squad in 2026, while there are others who are looking to catch the eye of Wallabies selections.
“That’s what makes this competition such an excellent addition to the calendar, to provide more time on the pitch for players. The experience they will gain can only be a good thing.”
The front row represents an all-Super Rugby Pacific affair, with Ieli and van Nek partnering Liam Bowron. Van Nek was recently called up to the Wallabies wider squad in South Africa as cover at tighthead prop.
20-year-old Cordukes partners Shaw in the second row, having recently been a part of the Uni-Norths Owls inaugural Bentspoke John I Dent Cup title win alongside van Nek, Macpherson and Sapsford.
Luke Reimer will captain the side from openside flanker and joins Macpherson, who recently signed a new two-year deal with the club, and Judah Saumaisue in the back row.
Klayton Thorn and Meredith partner each other in the halves, with McLeod selected at inside centre after excelling for the First Nations & Pasifika XV in their tight loss to the British & Irish Lions at Marvel Stadium in July. Hudson Creighton will line up outside him at 13.
Bartley-Saena steps up at full-back having impressed for Tuggeranong Vikings in their club campaign, amassing over 100 points. Sapsford and Kadin Pritchard complete the back three.
There are plenty of fresh faces among the reserves, with a further five uncapped players potentially getting their first senior starts. MacDougal medallist Chris Mickleson has been rewarded for his stellar club season, whilst recent signing Dan Nelson is also set to make an impact.
Tauati Chan-Tung, Tevita Alatini and Joe Dillon form the remaining uncapped players, alongside the experience of Tuaina Tualima, Rory Scott, and David Feliaui.
The Brumbies beat the Reds both home and away in 2025’s Super Rugby Pacific, with the win at Suncorp Stadium proving an important stepping stone to the top four of the ladder.
Tickets are available for our Super Rugby AUS, U19s and U16s triple header against rivals NSW Waratahs at Viking Park on Saturday 27 September here
2025 Super Rugby AUS Round 1 – Sunday 14 September (kick-off 3pm AEST)
Reds vs Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Starting XV
1. Lington Ieli (7 caps)
2. Liam Bowron (7 caps)
3. Rhys van Nek (41 caps)
4. Lachlan Shaw (16 caps)
5. Harvey Cordukes
6. Toby MacPherson
7. Luke Reimer (c) (58 caps)
8. Judah Saumaisue (3 caps)
9. Klayton Thorn (8 caps)
10. Declan Meredith (17 caps)
11. Ollie Sapsford (53 caps)
12. Jarrah McLeod
13. Hudson Creighton (20 caps)
14. Kadin Pritchard (1 cap)
15. Louis Bartley-Saena
Finishers
16. Chris Mickelson
17. Tauati Chan-Tung
18. Tevita Alatini
19. Tuaina Tualima (9 caps)
20. Rory Scott (46 caps)
21. Dan Nelson
22. Joe Dillon
23. David Feliaui (11 caps)
