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Australia U20 star among six new faces in Brumbies squad for 2025

185 days ago

Shane Wilcox of Australia is tackled during The Rugby Championship U20 Round 1 match between New Zealand and South Africa at Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 02, 2024 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Australia U20 representative Shane Wilcox and Wallabies squad member David Feliuai are among the six new players in the ACT Brumbies’ squad for 2025 as last season’s semi-finalists look to go a couple better in the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific season.

Wilcox started two matches at fullback during the U20 Rugby Championship on the Sunshine Coast earlier this year, which included a decisive double in the 24-19 win over South Africa U20. The fullback also wore the No. 15 jumper five times at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Feliuai is another significant addition to the Brumbies’ squad ahead of the new campaign, with the midfielder having been included in Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies squad before the two-match series in Argentina and later the Bledisloe Cup series.

Along with Feliuai, versatile forward Tuaina Taii Tualima joins from the Melbourne Rebels. The other fresh faces in the squad are made up of Academy graduates, and they are Kadin Pritchard, Tevita Alatini, and Lachlan Hooper – who is the brother of Wallaby Lachlan Hooper.

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The rest of the Brumbies’ squad looks incredibly familiar, with 30 members of last year’s squad retained for 2025. Next season’s squad includes seven Wallabies who played in the famous 42-37 win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium last weekend.

Nick Frost, Rob Valetini, Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper all contributed as the Wallabies started their Grand Slam quest with a valiant victory at one of the more famous venues in the sport.

“We’re delighted with our squad for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific. To maintain the bulk of our group from last season is pleasing and keeps a real sense of continuity around the club,” Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said in a statement.

“We’re excited to see what all the new additions can bring to the team in 2025. The two guys from Melbourne have given a great account of themselves since coming in for pre-season last week and are going to prove invaluable to us.

“We’re particularly looking forward to seeing the young guys getting some game time for the first team. The Elite Development Squad here keeps producing talent year after year and it’s incredibly satisfying to see those boys come through the system and pull on a Brumbies shirt.

“It’s been a terrific atmosphere around the place since pre-season began. We’ll be keeping the ball rolling throughout the rest of the year and into 2025 ahead of the first game against Fijian Drua in Suva in February.”

Tualima and Feliuai both joined the Brumbies for the start of pre-season training last Monday. Tualima brings some versatility to the group as a proven competitor at lock of the backrow, having played 37 times for the Queensland Reds and Melbourne Rebels in the past.

As for Feliuai, the 27-year-old debuted at Super Rugby Pacific level last year for the Rebels following a three-year stint in Romania for Baia Mare. The midfielder was initially rewarded with representative honours after being named in Australia’s squad before the July Series.

The Brumbies get their 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season underway against the Fijian Drua in Suva, Fiji, on Saturday, February 15. They’ll then return home to Canberra’s GIO Stadium for a clash with the Western Force on Saturday, February 22.

ACT Brumbies squad for 2025

Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa, Tevita Alatini*, Liam Bowron, Charlie Cale, Nick Frost, Lachlan Hooper*, Tom Hooper, Lachlan Lonergan, Cadeyrn Neville, Billy Pollard, Luke Reimer, Blake Schoupp, Rory Scott, Lachlan Shaw, James Slipper, Tuaina Taii Tualima*, Rob Valetini, Rhys van Nek, Harry Vella

Backs

Austin Anderson, Hudson Creighton, Jack Debreczeni, David Feliuai*, Harrison Goddard, Len Ikitau, Noah Lolesio, Ryan Lonergan, Decland Meredith, Andy Muirhead, Ben O’Donnell, Kadin Pritchard*, Ollie Sapsford, Klayton Thorn, Corey Toole, Shane Wilcox, Tom Wright

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 3 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 3 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 3 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 3 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 3 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 3 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍