The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies women will line up once again this weekend as they shift focus to a development fixture against Penina Pasifika on Saturday, following their Round 1 draw with the Western Force in Perth.
The Brumbies Smartech Super Rugby Women's head coach Andy Friend has selected his roster to face the development side as seven uncapped Brumbies will run out this weekend.
Australian Women's 7s star Tia Hinds will don the Brumbies kit for the first time from the number 10 jersey as she begins her Women's World Cup audition from the Capital. American prop Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele also features in the starting side after arriving in Australia just last week.
"Tia is well known to those who watch sevens, she's been one of the sevens stars this year. She joins us from the sevens program to put her best foot forward to see whether Joe Yapp and her team like what they see," said Friend.
"Mae has been playing over with the Leicester Tigers in the English Premier League competition, she joined us over in Perth so it's great to have her here, I'm really excited to see her pack down in the tight head position on Saturday."
Friend has opted to lighten the workload of some players that featured heavily in Perth's brutal clash and demanding travel last week, making way for a new-look starting XV as 10 players get their first start of the season.
"We're going to give a large percentage of the girls who travelled the weekend off, because it's a big travel week and it took a lot out of the girls in Round 1." said Friend.
"We have a really healthy squad of 32, so we want to give the other girls opportunity. So still respecting Penina, it gives us a chance to freshen up the squad and give everyone that opportunity to play and hopefully put in a good performance.
"This fixture is really important for the game; these girls [Penina] just need the opportunity to play a better level of rugby. As we saw just from the past weekend Super Rugby Women's provides that."
Development Fixture, 2025 Smartech Super Rugby Women's – Saturday 8th March (1.00pm AEDT)
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies vs Penina Pasifika
Field 3, University of Canberra, ACT
Starting XV
- Martha Fua
- Tania Naden
- Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele
- Ashley Fernandez
- Lily Bone
- Siokapesi Palu (c)
- Edwina Munns-Cook
- Piper Rankmore
- Jay Huriwai
- Tia Hinds
- Ana Naimasi
- Harmony Ioane
- Gabrielle Petersen
- Charlie Brigstocke
- Manua Moleka
Finishers
16. Ella Hopper
17. Lydia Kavoa
18. Hannah Stewart
19. Ana-lise Sio
20. Jess Grant
21. Ella Ryan
22. Merania Paraone
23. Siena Edwards
24. Tabua Tuinakauvadra
25. Kyah Little
