ACT Brumbies 2026

[Adam84]

Briefly rumoured Brumbies signing Tevita Pangai Jnr staying in France to play 6th division rugby for the birth of his child.

Ex-NSW Blues forward Tevita Pangai Junior signs with new club

He last played in the NRL in 2024.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Saw this online and had a look at the Club and had to check it wasn't April 1st when seeing other posts from the club. Has he paired up with a French bird or something and needs to stay around?

Assume at this point he's lingering around for an R360 offer and probably believes he's in the Haas category.

 

[Red Runner]

are there scrumhalf issues down there? Hearing Mosese Sorovi is training at the Brumbies

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Guy is a solid 3 string super rugby half.

 

[Filipo Daugunu]

Not that I am aware of. Three very competent halfbacks with Ryan Lonergan, Klayton Thorn, and Dan Nelson contracted for 2026. Probably an extra training member while untrusted Lonergan is running the waters in Europe.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

If he's lurking around that is a strong group of 4. I'd say he's train and trial for a fringe spot at most and if injury strikes during the year and want cover but as Filipo says Lonergan is overseas and you want the extra guy for training purposes.

 

[Adam84]

Didn't Klayton Thorn have an ongoing court case for alleged assault? Maybe there's a bit of redundancy there, not suggesting anything about how it will go but if it's a distraction for him while that's underway might be unavailable for selection.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

True. I don't believe it's anything too severe from some very peripheral reading. Bit of good behaviour and a self imposed Mooseheads ban on the cards.

 

[Slim 293]

Bit of good behaviour and a self imposed Mooseheads ban on the cards.

Not the worst thing in the world...

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Has he paired up with a French bird or something and needs to stay around?

Gee, tough choice, shack up with a spunky Frenchwoman in gay Paree or head back to frozen cold Canberra to get smashed playing rugby for the stupid Brumbies.....

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Get the feeling Questacon might make whatever is between his ears explode as well.

 

[rugbyAU]

Next year, what is the best 23?

1 - Slipper
2 - Pollard
3 - AA
4 - Frost
5 - Neville
6 - Valetini
7 - Scott
8 - Cale
9 - Lonergan
10 - Edmed
11 - Toole
12 - Feluai
13 - Sapsford
14 - Muirhead
15 - Meredith

Lonergan, Schoupp/Leli, Van Nek, Shaw, Reimer, Thorn, Creighton, Wilcox

 

[Major Tom]

I suspect AA will miss some time with that shoulder but otherwise their tight 5 should be pretty good.
Would love to see McLeod and Pritchard get more time together.

 

[Wilson]

I suspect AA will miss some time with that shoulder but otherwise their tight 5 should be pretty good.
Would love to see McLeod and Pritchard get more time together.

Pretty sure Lachlan Lonergan did his ACL in the Lions game and will probably miss a decent chunk of the season. Might be some questions over Schoupp's return too, but he should be good to go sooner.

 

[rugbyAU]

Front row depth really being pushed then

 

[Major Tom]

Pretty sure Lachlan Lonergan did his ACL in the Lions game and will probably miss a decent chunk of the season. Might be some questions over Schoupp's return too, but he should be good to go sooner.

Yeah I was about to say that. I think they'll be ok at hooker with Pollard, Bowron and that young U20s player who looks big.
They have Alatini for THP too.

 

[rugbyAU]

they'll have Slipper and leli and Schoupp when is he back?

 

[Major Tom]

Yeah, props wise they're all good. I would rest AA if he's not already gone in for surgery. Van Nek and Alatini can do the job until he returns.

 

[Filipo Daugunu]

Larkham is hoping to have Lonergan back by mid-March so should not miss too much of the season hopefully. Schoupp is already back into pre-season doing live scrum work and contact sessions, he will be good to go for Round 1 it seems. McLeod will be the 12 is my guess, he will slot straight in and hopefully Feliuai can play 13 (if not Creighton or Sapsford). A centre partnership of McLeod and Feliuai (looked good at 13 in SRA) is a dangerous combination if they can make it work. Based on Larkham's comments it seems Edmed will be at 10, and then fullback will be a strong contest between Meredith, Muirhead, and Austin Anderson. Anderson will either be the starting fullback or the reserve 10 behind Edmed with Meredith playing fullback. The most interesting selection spot will be fullback, will he put a playmaker in Meredith/Anderson to replicate the attack under Tom Wright or play Muirhead with Toole and Sapsford on the wings. My best guess is:

9. Ryan Lonergan
10. Tane Edmed
11. Corey Toole
12. Jarrah McLeod
13. David Feliuai Lene
14. Ollie Sapsford
15. Declan Meredith

21. Klayton Thorn
22. Austin Anderson
23. Andy Muirhead

In terms of pure attack, this is the most exciting backline they can put together. McLeod will be a break-out star, with his size (192cm, 106kg), speed, and physicality he will cause trouble for most teams in the comp, and in my opinion is simply too good to be left out. Meredith will add a lot from fullback with good front-foot ball from this centre combination, and Anderson is a smart footballer who will cover 10, 12, 15 very well.

 

[Hogan]

Larkham is hoping to have Lonergan back by mid-March so should not miss too much of the season hopefully. Schoupp is already back into pre-season doing live scrum work and contact sessions, he will be good to go for Round 1 it seems. McLeod will be the 12 is my guess, he will slot straight in and hopefully Feliuai can play 13 (if not Creighton or Sapsford). A centre partnership of McLeod and Feliuai (looked good at 13 in SRA) is a dangerous combination if they can make it work. Based on Larkham's comments it seems Edmed will be at 10, and then fullback will be a strong contest between Meredith, Muirhead, and Austin Anderson. Anderson will either be the starting fullback or the reserve 10 behind Edmed with Meredith playing fullback. The most interesting selection spot will be fullback, will he put a playmaker in Meredith/Anderson to replicate the attack under Tom Wright or play Muirhead with Toole and Sapsford on the wings. My best guess is:

9. Ryan Lonergan
10. Tane Edmed
11. Corey Toole
12. Jarrah McLeod
13. David Feliuai Lene
14. Ollie Sapsford
15. Declan Meredith

21. Klayton Thorn
22. Austin Anderson
23. Andy Muirhead

In terms of pure attack, this is the most exciting backline they can put together. McLeod will be a break-out star, with his size (192cm, 106kg), speed, and physicality he will cause trouble for most teams in the comp, and in my opinion is simply too good to be left out. Meredith will add a lot from fullback with good front-foot ball from this centre combination, and Anderson is a smart footballer who will cover 10, 12, 15 very well.

Much more exciting with Meredith at 10 and Muirhead at 15. Edmed will stifle the backline imo whilst Meredith with an elusive running game will keep defences guessing.