A player’s debut is always a momentous occasion at a football club. The excitement it brings to the players and their families tends to be infectious in nature. From the moment they’re told the news to the cap presentation in the sheds post-game, a player’s debut sticks in the memory long after the match has resulted.
Throughout the course of a season, a club will likely see a handful of players debut. On Saturday in Suva, no fewer than six players may run out in Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies colours for the first time, four of which will be making their Super Rugby Pacific debuts. It is a remarkable circumstance that only adds to the excitement of the season opener.
Austin Anderson, Lington Ieli, Judah Saumaisue, and Kadin Pritchard will all make their Super Rugby debuts on Saturday, whilst Feao Fotuaika and Tuaina Taii Tualima begin their journey with the Brumbies – having joined from rival Super Rugby teams.
No two paths are the same in rugby, something that this week’s debutants personify.
Austin Anderson - named to start at inside centre in Suva - honed his craft for Waikato in New Zealand’s NPC competition before making the trip across the Tasman. That decision has proved fruitful, highlighted by Anderson’s presence in the junior Wallabies training squad of 2023. Strong form in both the Brumbies Elite Development Squad and John I Dent competition has seen Anderson earn a Super Rugby Pacific debut. Anderson's relentless style of play appears to be ready-made for the highest level. His debut is a testament to both the hard work of the young man as well as the development pathway in place here in the nation’s capital.
Further proof of that development pathway is another of this week’s debutants, Kadin Pritchard. Pritchard – also hailing from New Zealand – is regarded as a star of the future by many pundits. His stand-out performances at U20 International level – as well as for the Gungahlin Eagles – have Brumbies fans excited to see him unleashed at Super Rugby level. An outside back, Pritchard will start on the bench this Saturday, but will surely be called upon if a spark is required in the game. He scored a double off the bench in the 45-12 Trial macth win against the Western Force at Marist College.
Lington Ieli – who has represented the Brumbies from U19 level onwards – will have the crucial role of scrummaging off the bench. A damaging front rower, Ieli is another junior Wallaby, meaning he is no stranger to the big stage. At only 20 years of age, Ieli represents a new generation of Brumbies looking to carry on the storied success of the club.
Judah Saumaisue rounds out the Super Rugby Pacific debutants. Already a dual international – having represented both Fiji and Australia at U20 level – Saumaisue will bring size and experience beyond his years. Having joined the Brumbies from the Melbourne Rebels, Saumaisue’s debut is made particularly special given the match will take place in Fiji – the nation he has represented at youth level.
Feao Fotuaika and Tuaina Taii Tualima both represented key signings for the club in the off-season. Fotuaika, a product of the Queensland pathway, has proven himself to be a damaging prop in all conditions. A Tongan international, Fotuaika returns to Australian rugby following an impressive stint with French club Lyon. Taii Tualima joins the Brumbies from the Melbourne Rebels, though he started his Super Rugby career with the Queensland Reds. A powerful blindside flanker with the ability to also play at lock, he brings with him vital experience, with his strong ball-carrying and aerial ability set to play a pivotal role for the Brumbies.
