The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies will play two pre-season trial matches ahead of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, against the NSW Waratahs in Bowral and the Western Force at local Canberra school Marist College.
Our first pre-season fixture will take place against rivals the Waratahs on Saturday 1st February, at a middle ground location in Bowral Rugby Club.
The Brumbies will then play the Western Force at Marist on Friday 7th February, with pupils at the school able to watch some top-class rugby on their doorstep. The team will also have the Wallabies back in action after their Spring Tour in Europe.
ACT head coach Stephen Larkham believes both matches offer perfect preparation for the upcoming season.
“There has been a lot of changes within rugby in Australia, with players from the disbanded Melbourne Rebels being distributed between the teams,” Larkham said.
“The Waratahs and the Force have picked up quite a few of those players, so we’re really looking forward to these trials to see how those players integrate into their systems and how our team gels, off the back of what has so far been a very tough pre-season.
“Marist (College) is one of the big, rugby schools in Canberra and has a long history of bringing players through to the Brumbies and international duty, so it’s great for us to connect to a school like that.
“They’ve always been very supportive of us and we’re doing our best to support the rugby community in Canberra.”
Marist College has produced several Brumbies over the years, including the likes of Joe Roff, Jon McGrath, Tom Cusack and current players Rory Scott and Liam Bowron.
And Bowron, who graduated from Marist in 2020, is excited to lace his boots up and play on the turf where he learnt his craft.
“Going back to Marist is going to be special. There are a lot of guys I know that played junior rugby there alongside me and ran out on that field every day,” Bowron said.
“When I was young and looking up to the Brumbies, it was a fantastic feeling to see them at school. Going back there is going to be awesome, and we hope it drives people to play rugby, knowing there is a pathway in Canberra to follow as I did.”
The Brumbies Women will prepare for the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season with three matches, firstly against the Queensland Reds Women at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday 8th February, before a match against the NSW Waratahs Women at Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club on Saturday 15th February.
The Brumbies Women will then head home to Canberra for their final trial match ahead of the season, where they will face Fijian Drua at GIO Stadium on Saturday 22nd February (5.05pm KO). The clash will act as a curtain raiser for the men’s Super Rugby Pacific fixture against the Western Force.
Head of Women’s Rugby and Pathways at the Brumbies James Erwin said: “We are excited about the opportunities to face both 2024 Super Rugby Women’s Finalists (in the NSW Waratahs and Fiji Drua), and a very strong Queensland Reds program across our pre-season.
“We are looking forward to these games providing an effective platform for a big 2025 Super Rugby Women’s Season.”
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies: Men Trial Matches in 2025
- Saturday 1st February (3pm), NSW Waratahs vs ACT Brumbies, Bowral Rugby Club, Bowral (buy tickets here)
- Friday 7th February (KO TBC), ACT Brumbies vs Western Force, Marist College, Canberra
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies: Women Trial Matches in 2025
- Saturday 8th February (KO TBC), Queensland Reds Women vs ACT Brumbies Women, Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
- Saturday 15th February (3pm), NSW Waratahs Women vs ACT Brumbies Women, Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club, Campbelltown
- Saturday 22nd February (5.05pm), ACT Brumbies Women vs Fijian Drua Women, GIO Stadium, Canberra
