RECAP: The ACT Brumbies have celebrated James Slipper's special night in style, coming from behind to defeat the Chiefs 33-24 in Canberra.
Slipper became the most capped player of Super Rugby history, earning his 203rd cap and receiving a guard of honour from both sides.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
With festivities out of the way, the Canberra faithful enjoyed a brilliant opening half of flowing rugby, with Hudson Creighton getting the hosts on the board early.
However, the Chiefs then took the match by the scruff of the neck, dominating possession and scoring two tries through fullback Liam Coombes-Fabling.
Damian McKenzie put on a composed performance, adding three more points after the siren to give the men from Waikato a ten-point lead at the break, with a try in the second half from a long-range effort seeing them in the box seat near the hour mark, up 24-7.
However, a try from Ryan Longeran kicked off a fightback from the hosts, with Charlie Cale scoring his eighth try of the season shortly afterwards to cut the margin to less than a converted try.
Declan Meredith scored a critical try to give the hosts the lead with five minutes to go, and as the Chiefs hounded the line looking to snatch it at the death (with McKenzie also missing a penalty shot), a stunning intercept from Corey Toole in the 79th minute sealed a famous victory in Canberra.
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The Chiefs look to try and get a losing bonus point, and kick across the field as the siren goes… but it's out on the full! That's the ball game.
Slipper will finish his historic game a winner, as the Brumbies complete an incredible comeback.
The Chiefs attack well, the Brumbies defending hard. It's on the hosts 5m line, into the final minute… and Toole has intercepted it!
McKenzie is giving chase, but Toole is too fast. He scores the match-winner!
A penalty to the Chiefs, in kickable range. The visitors point to the sticks, and it's McKenzie's time to shine… and he's missed it!
Brumbies 22-drop out. What a game it's been.
A critical charge down from Coombes-Fabling, and the Chiefs earn a penalty deep in Brumby territory.
They go to the maul, attack and lose the ball and the Brumbies kick long and give chase McKenzie regathers, but the hosts are pinged for offside.
The Chiefs spoil another passage of attacking play and counterattack in their own half, before the Brumbies attack again through Cale. The crowd starts to rise in support as the hosts get closer.
The visitors go wide, and Meredith scoops up the ball to score in the corner. We're all even!
Lonergan nails it from the sideline! The Brumbies lead!
The Brumbies have the momentum, with a brilliant build-up of play seeing them on the attack.
They go to the forwards, and this time they make no mistake! Charlie Cale barges over for his eighth try, and the Brumbies are within a converted try.
A brilliant piece of counterattack from the Brumbies, but is Meredith out? We're going upstairs!
It's a try to Ryan Lonergan, and the Brumbies claw one back! He cannot convert, but the Brumbies are within two scores.
Brilliant move from the Chiefs, they cut the Brumbies open, and McKenzie runs it in for a critical third try!
He converts, and that's a big lead now for the Chiefs!
The Brumbies survive the attack and earn a penalty, and they get into enemy territory and attack… but somehow, Quinn Tupaea earns a penalty for holding on.
The hosts are looking dangerous, with lots of attacking play for the first five minutes.
But, they can't find a way through, and a brilliant kick from Coombes-Fambling sees the visitors gain 60 metres!
A dangerous period is coming up for the hosts.
The Chiefs kick off, and a big half is underway for both sides!
McKenzie doesn't mess around, knocking over the three points as the sides down the tunnel, the visitors holding a ten-point lead.
The Chiefs keep attacking, looking for a second score at halftime.
The Brumbies hold out, but concede a penalty, and McKenzie points to the sticks.
The Brumbies attack again, but Charlie Cale is isolated and the visitors earn a penalty, managing the pressure well.
The Chiefs attack in the Brumbies' territory through the maul, Oates shuts it down well, but can't clear it.
After surviving the first wave, the Chiefs concede an accidental offside and the Brumbies attack brilliantly, earning a penalty advantage for offside.
They tap and go, going up the guts, but after over 12 passages, the Chiefs hold them up! Goal line drop out.
The Brumbies are withering more storms as the visitors look to attack down the far flank, but the Chiefs can't link up, and it goes into touch.
A scrum penalty relieves pressure, and the hosts finally kick deep into enemy territory, looking for an equaliser.
Both sides have opened up with some free-flowing rugby, but the Chiefs have benefited.
Thanks to a brilliant piece of counterattack from Josh Lord, Liam Coombes-Fabling finds himself in the right place to score his second.
McKenzie converts, and the visitors lead for the first time.
Liam Coombes-Fabling is the benefactor of a brilliant play off the scrum, and the Chiefs score their first of the evening.
McKenzie converts, and we're locked up after the first quarter of the match.
The Chiefs attack again and look to be in through Damian McKenzie, only for the young fly-half Meredith to produce another piece of brilliance and win a penalty for the Brumbies.
The visitors continue to press, but Andy Muirhead looks to have stopped the play, attempting an intercept.
The Chiefs are calling for a deliberate knockdown, but Nic Berry calls it a knock and a scrum to the visitors.
The visitors start well, and look dangerous before Meredith intercepts and kicks long.
Chiefs attack again, earning a scrum in a good position, but the backline can't combine and the hosts clear.
A fantastic start with a brilliant scrum, and the hosts are in through Hudson Creighton, the visitors running out of numbers on the wing.
Lonergan converts, and the hosts are ahead!
An early penalty to the Brumbies sees them earn a penalty, but the lineout falls apart and the Chiefs clear.
The visitors nearly break through on counterattack, but Pollard can't link up with Frost on the right flank.
Promising signs for the hosts as the Chiefs knock on off the lineout.
The man of the hour runs out with his kids in both arms to a brilliant reception from the Brumbies' faithful, receiving a guard of honour from the Brumbies and Chiefs.
Celebrations out of the way, the Brumbies will kick off running right to left.
Declan Meredith kicks off, and we're underway!
Tries: Creighton, Lonergan, Cale, Meredith, Toole
Cons: Lonergan 4/5
Tries: Coombes-Fabling 2 McKenzie
Cons: McKenzie 3/3
Pens: McKenzie 1/1
Welcome to Rugby.com.au's coverage of the ACT Brumbies' clash with the Chiefs in Canberra.
Both sides are going through their warm-up, with confirmation of no changes to either line-up, as we gear up to see James Slipper achieve a historic milestone.
Conditions look cloudy in the nation's capital, but we should be set for a perfect evening of rugby.
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Darcy Breen, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Declan Meredith, Corey Toole, Hudson Creighton, Kadin Pritchard, Kye Oates, Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Toby Macpherson, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Austin Anderson
CHIEFS (1-15): Jared Proffit, Samisomi Taukei'aho, Reuben O'Neill, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa'i, Simon Parker, Jahrome Brown, Luke Jacobson (c), Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Quinn Tupara, Daniel Rona, Leroy Carter, Liam Coombes-Fabling
Replacements: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Xavier Roe, Josh Jacomb, Lalakai Foketi
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
The Brumbies' clash with the Chiefs will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport.
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 7:00 pm with kickoff expected at 7:35 pm.
