ACT Brumbies 2026

[Brumby Runner]

ACT BRUMBIES 2026

Head Coach - Stephen Larkham 2026
Assistant Coach -
Assistant Coach - John Ulugia
Assistant Coach - Ben Mowen

FORWARDS

Prop:

Allan Ala'alatoa 2027
Tevita Alatini 2025
Blake Schoupp 2025
James Slipper 2026
Harry Vella 2025
Rhys van Nek 2027
Feao Fotuaika 2025

Hooker:

Liam Bowron 2026
Lachlan Lonergan 2027
Billy Pollard 2027

Lock:

Nick Frost 2027
Cadeyrn Neville 2026
Lachlan Shaw 2027
Tuaina Taii Tualima 2026

Backrow:

Charlie Cale 2025
Lachlan Hooper 2025
Luke Reimer 2026
Rory Scott 2026
Rob Valetini 2027

Scrumhalf:

Harrison Goddard 2025
Ryan Lonergan 2027
Klayton Thorn 2025

Flyhalf:

Declan Meredith 2027

Centre:

Austin Anderson 2025
Hudson Creighton 2026
David Feliuai 2027
Len Ikitau 2027 (Sabbatical for part 2026)
Kadin Pritchard 2027

Wing:

Corey Toole 2026
Andy Muirhead 2025
Ollie Sapsford 2026

Fullback:

Shane Wilcox 2025
Tom Wright 2028

Rumoured In

Tane Edmed

Those noted as contracted until 2025 are either unsigned or likely off contract in 2026.

Departures

Rod Seib
Tom Hooper
Jack Debreczini
Cullen Gray
Noah Lolesio
Ben O'Donnell

OK have at it. Brumbies to win in 2026.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Looking ahead to 2026, I anticipate a fairly dramatic change to the attacking systems for the Brumbies.

As we know, the Brumbies are quite structured in their systems and playing methods and that has stood them in good stead over recent years. They have prided themselves on their set piece and have consistently been one of the top performers at lineout, maul and scrum time. Their defensive structure took time to bed in this year and still leaves the wingers with a lot of work to do and often facing multiple ball runners coming at them. But the systems are fairly rigid and that allows others to come into a matchday XXIII without much noticeable affect on overall performance. I expect that to continue and improve next season.

Their attacking structures this year were probably designed around the skills, attributes and abilities of Noah Lolesio, being the focus of most plays from the No 10 spot. Noah was solid at best at Super level relying mainly on attacking through the forwards or sending the ball to a second line of attack when going wide. He did not often take on the line himself, and when he did he invariably was shut down quickly, hardly ever making a game changing penetration through the opposition. On top of that, his in game kicking was hardly earth shattering and fans often criticised his lack of distance with his kicks. But he played to the systems designed by Rod Seib and Bernie Larkham, and those systems were also followed by the likes of Debreczini and Meredith when they came into the line. There was really no noticeable change to any offensive plays when Noah was replaced in games. This despite both Debreczini and Meredith having different levels of skills and abilities to Noah.

With the departures of Seib and Lolesio, the opportunity to try something a bit different in attack presents itself. As we know, all teams need to evolve and now is the time for the Brumbies to adapt their attacking structures to the skills that Meredith, and Edmed if he comes, possess. Both are better, faster runners of the ball than Noah was, have longer and perhaps better kicking games, are better defenders, and have better footwork that should allow them to create more opportunities to attack when in possession. Meredith has also shown more than good ability to chip and chase over the defensive line in trial games and I expect this will be exploited by the incoming attack coach. Imagine if that happened to be Peter Hewat or someone of his ilk.

I am anticipating a different look from the team with ball in hand next year. It would be great then to have an injection into the centres to take advantage. If Feliuai can improve his handling in contact, he could have a stellar year at 12. He has shown an ability to run hard and make inroads into the defence when in possession. This year his issue was that he was liable to lose possession in contact. Otherwise, someone like Bayley Kuenzle or Reesjan Pasitoa might be a welcome addition and I think both are off contract atm? Len Ikitau will not be replaced with like-for-like during his sabbatical, but either of Hudson Creighton or Ollie Sapsford will make an adequate fill in until Len returns.

 

[Homer]

Without Hooper 2nd row is an issue. Neville is in the sunset of his career and Tualima is more of a backrow. I like Shaw but still young and needs a few more kgs. None of the named backrow squad could play 2nd row either.

Is Ieli not contracted for next year?

 

[Wilson]

Without Hooper 2nd row is an issue. Neville is in the sunset of his career and Tualima is more of a backrow. I like Shaw but still young and needs a few more kgs. None of the named backrow squad could play 2nd row either.

I'm guessing MacPherson is expected to play a bigger role there next year. It was a bit surprising he didn't make in the field this year, given his early return from Japan.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Without Hooper 2nd row is an issue. Neville is in the sunset of his career and Tualima is more of a backrow. I like Shaw but still young and needs a few more kgs. None of the named backrow squad could play 2nd row either.

Is Ieli not contracted for next year?

No announcement that I could find in a search of the website.

 

[Bob Peters]

Should make a play for Doyle and Mangelsdorf from the U20’s to beef up second row stocks. Not as if the Tahs will look after them with all their 4,5,6 new signings. Is it true the Tahs have also signed Lachlan Hooper? Hope not.

 

[Tomikin]

I thought I read Lachlan Hooper might be moving on as well. I think we are ok with Frost Shaw and Neville, it ain't no Frost, Hooper, Swain but we probably do want to chase another lock.

 

[Brumby Runner]

For 2026 I don't think Doyle or Mangelsdorf offer any advantage over Shaw or McPherson who have an extra year or two of experience over the former two. While I think they'll cope with their current options another experienced lock wouldn't go astray. Think someone like a Trevor Hosea if available.

 

[Bob Peters]

For 2026 I don't think Doyle or Mangelsdorf offer any advantage over Shaw or McPherson who have an extra year or two of experience over the former two. While I think they'll cope with their current options another experienced lock wouldn't go astray. Think someone like a Trevor Hosea if available.

Probably thinking more longer term with the 20’s guys, but Hosea would be a good get for the short term. Pity Harry Hockings is getting too much yen to come back to Aus.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

D

Should make a play for Doyle and Mangelsdorf from the U20’s to beef up second row stocks. Not as if the Tahs will look after them with all their 4,5,6 new signings. Is it true the Tahs have also signed Lachlan Hooper? Hope not.

Don't think Doyle will be going anywhere. Leota, Gleeson, Kalapu, Halaholo gone. Adamson a bit of a stop gap and FLW (Fergus Lee-Warner) one more year on the deal. He's a 6/8 that can push into lock when needed long term like Holloway could but has the potential to be better. Teams would be mad not try and sign him but surely NSW is trying to sign him to a long extension.

Shaw will be better for the games this year. Looked under weight this year but he'll continue to fill out. Hopefully the Brums can get a good pre season into Cale and the ability to shift forwards around then is huge.

 

[whitefalcon]

I thought I read Lachlan Hooper might be moving on as well. I think we are ok with Frost Shaw and Neville, it ain't no Frost, Hooper, Swain but we probably do want to chase another lock.

Someone mentioned it looked that way after the Lions match as he was presented with a set of framed photos etc

Theory was he might be going to the Tahs

 

[Filipo Daugunu]

For 2026 I don't think Doyle or Mangelsdorf offer any advantage over Shaw or McPherson who have an extra year or two of experience over the former two. While I think they'll cope with their current options another experienced lock wouldn't go astray. Think someone like a Trevor Hosea if available.

Trevor Hosea just came off contract at Suntory Sungoliath and they didn't re-sign him. Pretty much a day later Honda Heat announced that they have signed him for a couple of years. Not a second-rower but Tamati Ioane (Ex-Rebel) just came off contract at Suntory Sungoliath as well, no one has picked him up yet. That young lock Jackson Pugh from Perth was a good young player before Cron said he was free to go, he is running around in Japan as well and could be a good pickup (around 197cm and 115kg). Played Aus A in 2022 after his first year with the Force but got told he was free to go. Would come cheap as chips and had good mobility and handling skills. Good lineout jumper. Had a season of starts in the backrow with Auckland in the NPC not long ago. Completely unknown his contract situation in Japan. Put together 15 matches this year in Japan, all in the backrow. Think he has the size to play second row in Super Rugby though. Most of those Melbourne locks are in Japan to stay, and have no intention of returning to Aus it seems. Pugh a potential option, or if Tualima goes to lock and L Hooper is gone as well, someone like Tamati Ioane could come in to shore up 6 and 8 depth.

 

[Merrow]

Haven’t heard anything about L Hooper leaving. I know there was a presentation to him at the lions game but I presumed that was because it was his debut