Brumbies deal cuts a trail for Victorians

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Rugby Victoria and the ACT Brumbies have formed a partnership to create a clear pathway for Victorian players aged 16 to 18 to progress to Super Rugby and the national team, with up to five players joining the Brumbies each year after school. This initiative addresses concerns about local talent development following the Melbourne Rebels' disbandment and aims to sustain Victoria’s growing rugby success despite the absence of a local Super Rugby franchise.

A new partnership between Rugby Victoria and the ACT Brumbies is set to establish a formal pathway for young Victorian rugby players aspiring to reach the Super Rugby level and, ultimately, the national team. The arrangement, expected to be announced later this month, aims to support emerging talent aged 16 to 18 through Rugby Victoria’s academy, with up to five promising players joining the Brumbies annually after finishing school.

This collaboration comes more than two years after the Melbourne Rebels were disbanded due to financial difficulties, including debts nearing AUD 23 million. The loss of Victoria’s lone Super Rugby franchise raised concerns about the future development of local rugby talent and whether the state’s progress in nurturing players could be sustained.

Rugby Victoria CEO Aaron Bailey emphasized that the partnership would provide “clarity of place” for young athletes seeking a Super Rugby pathway. The move comes amid a period of notable success for Victorian rugby, highlighted by the recent Australian Wallabies team that featured a record five players with Victorian roots in the starting lineup during their victory over Argentina.

The five players — prop Isaac Kailea, second-rower Josh Canham, backrower Rob Valentini, centre Hunter Paisami, and winger Harry Potter — all had formative rugby experience in Victoria. Four developed through the Melbourne club Harlequins, while Potter played with Moorabbin Rams after relocating from England during his childhood. This is the highest number of Victorian-born or raised players to start for Australia in a single match, underscoring the strength of the talent emerging from the region despite the absence of a local Super Rugby franchise.

Former Wallabies coach and Victorian-born World Cup winner Ewen McKenzie described the current period as “maybe the peak” for Victorian rugby talent, while acknowledging the challenge posed by the Rebels’ closure. He likened the progress to a ship’s engines still running after being turned off, cautioning that momentum might eventually fade without sustained support.

Rod Macqueen, the inaugural coach of the Melbourne Rebels and a World Cup-winning mentor, welcomed the new partnership as validation of the investment made into Victoria’s rugby infrastructure. Macqueen noted the enthusiasm for the sport in the state and commended Rugby Australia’s financial commitments, describing the initial establishment of rugby in Victoria as “a hard start” that now appears to be yielding positive results.

The Brumbies–Rugby Victoria link represents a strategic effort to preserve and enhance Victoria’s player development amid the evolving landscape of Australian rugby, ensuring that the state’s promising athletes have access to elite competition opportunities beyond their home clubs.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.