Brumbies commence 2009 plans
Welcome back!
The Brumbies commenced their 2009 season yesterday with a team gathering where all current Wallabies attended and the new recruits were unveiled.
New coach Ansy Friend taking off the reigns from Laurie Fisher in 2009 unveiled his plans for 2009 with a video detailing snippets from the Brumbies performances in 2008 and detailed how he wanted the team to play in 2009.
The team for 2009 were full of excitement yesterday as a new phase in the rebuilding of the Brumbies commenced with new jerseys being handed out in the team planning day.
The Brumbies minus their Wallabies stars commence training next week.
Peter Kimlin secures Wallabies selection
Peter Kimlin has won selection into the Wallabies touring squad after earlier in the week training with the Wallabies squad. Kimlin had thought he was just making up the numbers gaining some valuable experience until Robbie Deans announced he was to join the squad for the European tour that departs in two weeks time.
Kimlin was over the moon with the decision but also in shock that his dream of playing the the Wallabies is now certainly guaranteed and that it has come perhaps years before he seriously expcted his chance to come.
Kimlin, 23, who mostly played off the bench for the Brumbies in the Super 14 this year looks set to not only become a regular in the starting lineup for the Brumbies next year but also set to win his first test cap in Europe.
Kimlin who stands 198cm is a tall and aggressive player who has a high work-rate and has impressed at the Brumbies in 2008. This and his strong form for Australia A caught the eye of the Deans and this secured him the call into the Wallabies squad.
A local Canberra product Kimlin is in a good position to push for a long term role with the Wallabies and could form a dynamic lock pairing with James Horwill in the years to come.
2009 Super 14 Fixtures
The provisional 2009 Super 14 schedule has been released. The season commences on Friday 6th February and will conclude with a six team final series.
Checkout the fixtures below.
Super 14 Fixtures for 2009
| Round | Date | Home | Away | Venue |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Blues | Crusaders | Auckland |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Cheetahs | Stormers | Bloemfontein |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Sharks | Bulls | Durban |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Reds | Hurricanes | Brisbane |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Chiefs | Brumbies | Hamilton |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Lions | Waratahs | Johannesburg |
| 1 | Friday, 6th February | Force | Highlanders | Perth |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Bulls | Reds | Pretoria |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Stormers | Sharks | Cape Town |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Lions | Cheetahs | Johannesburg |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Hurricanes | Waratahs | Wellington |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Highlanders | Brumbies | Dunedin |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Force | Blues | Perth |
| 2 | Friday, 13th February | Crusaders | Chiefs | Christchurch |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Stormers | Reds | Cape Town |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Sharks | Lions | Durban |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Brumbies | Crusaders | Canberra |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Bulls | Blues | Pretoria |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Force | Cheetahs | Perth |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Waratahs | Chiefs | Sydney |
| 3 | Friday, 20th February | Hurricanes | Highlanders | Wellington |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Stormers | Blues | Cape Town |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Lions | Bulls | Johannesburg |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Waratahs | Highlanders | Sydney |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Chiefs | Sharks | Hamilton |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Reds | Cheetahs | Brisbane |
| 4 | Friday, 27th February | Crusaders | Hurricanes | Christchurch |
| 4 | Saturday, 28th February | Brumbies | Force | Canberra |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Bulls | Stormers | Pretoria |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Waratahs | Reds | Sydney |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Blues | Sharks | Auckland |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Highlanders | Crusaders | Dunedin |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Chiefs | Force | Hamilton |
| 5 | Friday, 6th March | Hurricanes | Cheetahs | Wellington |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Brumbies | Waratahs | Canberra |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Stormers | Lions | Cape Town |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Reds | Sharks | Brisbane |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Highlanders | Chiefs | Dunedin |
| 6 | Friday, 13th March | Blues | Cheetahs | Auckland |
| 6 | Saturday, 14th March | Crusaders | Force | Christchurch |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Lions | Brumbies | Johannesburg |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Waratahs | Crusaders | Sydney |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Chiefs | Blues | Hamilton |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Hurricanes | Bulls | Wellington |
| 7 | Friday, 20th March | Highlanders | Cheetahs | Invercargill |
| 7 | Saturday, 21st March | Force | Sharks | Perth |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Lions | Hurricanes | Johannesburg |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Sharks | Brumbies | Durban |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Reds | Chiefs | Brisbane |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Crusaders | Stormers | Christchurch |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Highlanders | Bulls | Dunedin |
| 8 | Friday, 27th March | Blues | Waratahs | Auckland |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Sharks | Hurricanes | Durban |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Cheetahs | Brumbies | Bloemfontein |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Waratahs | Stormers | Sydney |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Crusaders | Bulls | Christchurch |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Force | Reds | Perth |
| 9 | Friday, 3rd April | Chiefs | Lions | Hamilton |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Cheetahs | Sharks | Bloemfontein |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Waratahs | Bulls | Sydney |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Blues | Lions | Auckland |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Force | Hurricanes | Perth |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Brumbies | Stormers | Canberra |
| 10 | Friday, 10th April | Highlanders | Reds | Dunedin |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Sharks | Crusaders | Durban |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Reds | Lions | Brisbane |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Brumbies | Bulls | Canberra |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Hurricanes | Stormers | Palmerston North |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Cheetahs | Chiefs | Bloemfontein |
| 11 | Friday, 17th April | Blues | Highlanders | Auckland |
| 11 | Saturday, 18th April | Waratahs | Force | Sydney |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Cheetahs | Crusaders | Bloemfontein |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Bulls | Chiefs | Pretoria |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Force | Lions | Perth |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Blues | Reds | Auckland |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Highlanders | Stormers | Dunedin |
| 12 | Friday, 24th April | Hurricanes | Brumbies | Wellington |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Sharks | Highlanders | Durban |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Lions | Crusaders | Johannesburg |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Cheetahs | Waratahs | Kimberley |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Hurricanes | Blues | Wellington |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Reds | Brumbies | Brisbane |
| 13 | Friday, 1st May | Stormers | Chiefs | Cape Town |
| 13 | Saturday, 2nd May | Bulls | Force | Pretoria |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Bulls | Cheetahs | Pretoria |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Brumbies | Blues | Canberra |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Crusaders | Reds | Christchurch |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Sharks | Waratahs | Durban |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Stormers | Force | Cape Town |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Chiefs | Hurricanes | Hamilton |
| 14 | Friday, 8th May | Lions | Highlanders | Johannesburg |
Queensland Reds secure Braid
The Queensland Reds have signed the outstanding flanker Daniel Braid. Braid who lined up against the Wallabies this year for New Zealand has been the backup for Richie McCaw in recent times and was the New Zealand Super 14 player of the year in 2007.
The signing of Braid as the first foreigner who is not eligible for Wallabies selection by the Reds is the first signing by under the new foreign based player policy recently introduced. Braid will replace David Croft who retired at the end of the 2008 Super 14 season.
Western Force player revolt rumours continue
Rumours just won’t seem to leave the Western Force’s coach John Mitchell as rumours of a player revolt out West. Mitchell who was lauded when he took over three years ago at the Force is seemingly on borrowed time as star players like Matt GIteau consider the exit.
Western Force management have denied rumours of a player revolt but the rumours fail to go away which will continue to build pressure on Mitchell.
It is likely that the likelyhood of Mitchell surviving could hang on Matt Giteau and his decision to stay with the Force or consider returning to the Brumbies as may in the Australian Rugby scene are insisting.
Fava signs with Waratahs
Scott Fava has been released by the Western Force and has been signed to a vacant squad spot for the NSW Waratahs in the 2009 Super 14 competition.
Fava who previously played for the Brumbies and was the first try scorer for the Western Force when they joined the competition sought an early release to be closer to his family.
Super 14 could be Super 15 in 2010
Australian Rugby supremo John O/Neill speculated that in 2010 we could see a 15 team Super Rugby competition.
The addition of another team would be from Australia perhaps Melbourne or the Gold Coast and the season would run from March to August, where each team would play a home and away against their own domestic provinces and would play each foreign team once similar to the current Super 14.
It would also allow for an expanded final series, perhaps as long as six weeks.
O’Neill went on to say that the European teams could tour in August and the Tri-Nations could be played between September and October. The additional rugby would be well received in the souther hemisphere after critism of the short Super 14 series that runs only four months.
The Super 14 will expand it’s final series from 4 to six teams in 2009 and further changes are almost certain for 2011 when changes are likely to the format and teams that emcompass the Super 14. Pacific Nations teams and even Japan have been discussed as possible teams that could play a part in the an expanded 2011 Super 14 competition.
One potential hitch is the Northern Hemisphere nations who may protest against touring in August as this is the start of their pre-season in Europe. We will watch this closely at The Ruck and Maul and keep you posted of any developments.
Springboks target Brumbies squad
The Brumbies have been receiving interest from a number of foriegn based players in particular from South Africa, UK and the Pacific Islands. Brumbies coach Andy Friend commented that he has been contacted by overseas based players regarding a move to the Brumbies under the new Australian Foreign Player Policy that allows each Australian team to sign two foriegn based players.
Friend indicated that the most interest was from South Africa with one player providing a DVD of their performances. The Brumbies have mentioned an interest in picking up two upcoming players as opposed to a marquee player and an upcoming star. The Brumbies see a greater benefit in developing a player than can stay at the club for longer than two years and can challenge for Wallabies team selection.
The move of Clyde Rathbone to the Brumbies a few years ago has no doubt been a big incentive for other South African players to consider a move to Canberra. Rathbone has settled in well representing Australia and playing a major role at the Brumbies. The Brumbies at this stage are unlikely to recruit any foreign based stars in 2009 at this stage.
Wallabies Profile - Richard Brown
RIchard Brown, 24, was born in August 1984 and made his first class debut against the Brumbies for the Western Force in 2006. Brown is 189cm tall and weights 101 kgs. Brown has collected 32 Super Rugby caps in his three years with the Western Force.
Brown is a tough and uncompromising flanker who can play anywhere in the backrow. His height makes him a lineout candidate and his aggressive tackling and hard running has made him one of the best at the Western Force. 2008 was his breakout year and provided Richard Brown with a call-up to the Wallabies training squad in May.
Brown will make his debut for the Wallabies off the bench against the All Blacks in the final Tri-Nations match of the summer and is likely to represent Australia alot more over the coming years.
Nathan Sharpe denies Force player revolt
Nathan Sharpe today refuted speculation that the Western Force players are at loggerheads with their coach John Mitchell. Sharpe mentioned that the rumours are just that and that they had no validity and that why would he sign a three year contract with the Force if he was unhappy.
Sharpe went on to detail that Force star Matt Giteau has been annoyed with contractual issues that were part of his deal as the third party payments they were negotiated as part of his contract have not been forthcoming. The non-payment of these third party arrangements could well cost them their star player as he main return to the Brumbies in 2010.
Despite Sharpe denying these rumours the rumblings are unlikely to go away anytime soon as John Mitchell has been bagged by previous All Blacks players and staff which is only likely to add more fuel to the fire.