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Thursday

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Brumbies coach blasts 'dangerous' early Super Rugby kick-off following Reds victory in sweltering conditions

By Online Editors

31 Jan 2020

(Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar has described starting the Super Rugby season in January as “dangerous” and called for change next season.

The Brumbies and Queensland Reds kicked off their season in 39-degree heat at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.

Bushfires were burned within 10km of the city as the players suffered through the oppressive conditions and McKellar stood up for his men.

Continue reading below…

The Brumbies prevailed 27-24 before McKellar called on the governing body to prioritise player safety and move the season forward.

“We talk about player welfare, we’ve got big men having to run around and they’re in good condition but I’m hoping round one next year is not anywhere near January 31,” McKellar said.

“You’re limited with your preparation time and it’s dangerous, it really is.”

The ACT has been sporadically blanketed in smoke, depending on winds, for more than two months and the Brumbies had to move their preseason training to Newcastle for 10 days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7_1bMaA6pg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Super Rugby officials created safety guidelines around air quality last week as bushfire smoke continues to linger in Canberra and Melbourne.

Big Bash League, W-League and WNBL matches have all been abandoned in Canberra this summer due to smoke and officials were closely monitoring conditions on Friday.

McKellar described the ongoing disaster as hitting “pretty close to home” with his squad members Ryan and Lachlan Lonergan’s family property impacted.

Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa echoed his coach’s comments and wants the season to kick off later next year.

“Yeah it was warm and we definitely felt it,” Alaalatoa said.

“We knew it was going to be hot I was just proud of the boys how we dug deep and worked through that.

“Hopefully, it is a bit later next year.”

– AAP

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TBPinOZ 29 minutes ago

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Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.

I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.

No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.

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I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.

Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.

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Wit Kant 1 hour ago

Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

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Jmann 4 hours ago

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Jmann 4 hours ago

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in fact polls have shown conclusively 2 things: First - more people in NZ support the bill than do not (FACT!)/ Secondly - 96% of the 'hikoi' participants had not read Act's bill. In other words... they have no idea what it is about. You have carried this ignorance on with your statement that Act "seek to rewrite the Treaty'. That is 100% inaccurate and in fact is explicitly ruled out in the bill. You should educate yourself and read it before before commenting on matters that you clearly have no understanding of.

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Jmann 4 hours ago

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