Brumbies name Super Rugby Squad

November 04, 2019
2221
Ultimate Rugby

The Brumbies have finalised their 2020 squad with 37 players named to take part in the 25^th season of Super Rugby action.

There are ten new signings for Brumbies supporters to look out for, including the latest recruit from Melbourne Storm, Solomone Kata, experienced lock Caderyn Neville, Sydney University Shute Shield skipper Guy Porter and backrower Will Miller.

Ten full Wallabies internationals are also represented in the Brumbies squad with strong-running centre Tevita Kuridrani, World class props Scott Sio, James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa and hooker Folau Fainga’a, the Brumbies leading try-scorer in 2019, all having been part of the Wallabies at the recent Rugby World Cup in Japan.

This quartet are part of a strong continuity in the squad with 27 players returning from the successful season in 2019, including Tom Banks, Pete Samu, Lachlan McCaffrey, Joe Powell and Tom Cusack.

“We feel we have a very balanced and exciting squad for the 2020 Super Rugby season,” Head Coach Dan McKellar commented.

“There’s a great mix of youth and experience in the roster, but the one thing they all have in common is their hunger to succeed, express themselves on a rugby field, and be part of a winning culture at the Brumbies.

“Our recruitment has been excellent. We identified areas in which we needed to bolster our ranks and we feel we have attracted the right type of player, both in terms of their ability and character, to succeed here in Canberra.”

Thirteen of the squad have been developed in the Brumbies Academy Pathway, a system that has been responsible for starting the Super Rugby careers of lock Darcy Swain, talented prop Tom Ross, scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan, who excelled with the Canberra Vikings in the NRC, hooker Lachlan Lonergan and promising flyhalf Noah Lolesio amongst others.

The likes of these players, plus centre Len Ikitau and utility back Mack Hansen, are perfect examples of the pathway system working to its full intent, something that McKellar is keen to see continue.

“We have made no secret of the fact that we believe that, as a club, we should be growing our own players for Super Rugby,” McKellar said.

“We must have a thriving Academy pathway in place to succeed in this competition and allow for sustainable success. We are now seeing the benefits of the good work being undertaken by our Academy staff with a number of exciting talents coming into the senior squad.”

2020 Plus500 Brumbies Squad

Prop
Allan ALAALATOA
Leslie LEULUAIALII-MAKIN
Harry LLOYD
Tom ROSS
Scott SIO
James SLIPPER
Shambeckler VUI

Hooker
Folau FAINGA’A
Lachlan LONERGAN
Connal MCINERNEY

Lock
Murray DOUGLAS
Blake ENEVER
Nick FROST
Caderyn NEVILLE
Darcy SWAIN

Back Row
Jahrome BROWN
Tom CUSACK
Lachlan MCCAFFREY
Will MILLER
Pete SAMU
Rob VALETINI

Scrumhalf
Issak FINES
Ryan LONERGAN
Joe POWELL

Flyhalf
Bayley KUENZLE
Noah LOLESIO
Reesjan PASITOA

Centre
Len IKITAU
Tevita KURIDRANI
Guy PORTER
Irae SIMONE
Tom WRIGHT

Wing/Fullback
Tom BANKS
Mack HANSEN
Solomone KATA
Andrew MUIRHEAD
Toni PULU