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Brumbies confirm four Wallabies will depart the club at season's end
By
Sam Smith
Brumbies Rugby are set to farewell a special group of players and staff at the end of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, with the club recognising their valuable contribution to the organisation following Saturday night’s Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium.
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The cross-capital matchup is the Brumbies final guaranteed home game for 2022, giving the club’s members, fans and key stakeholders an opportunity to celebrate those who will move on from the club at the end of the season.
Head coach Dan McKellar confirmed he would move on to a full-time role with the Wallabies at the end of the 2022 season, with Head Physiotherapist Ed Hollis also departing the club after his third stint at the Brumbies to focus on his role with the national team.
Four senior players will finish up their time with the club, all four having contributed greatly to the Brumbies, becoming standout Super Rugby players and Wallabies.
Scott Sio will depart the Brumbies after 11 seasons with the club. One of the best props of his generation, Sio joins Ben Alexander, Christian Lealiifano and George Smith as the only players to play over 140 games for the club.
Also departing is Tom Banks, the fullback having played 84 times in Brumbies colours to date. Banks moves on from the club having made a lasting impression on the Brumbies family since his debut in 2017, scoring 35 tries, many that will live long in the memory of fans and teammates alike.
Hooker Folau Fainga’a is also set to depart the Brumbies at the end of the season having made 61 appearances since debuting in 2018. Fainga’a will be fondly remembered for both his tenacity around the park, and his exploits as the guiding hand at the back of the Brumbies maul.
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Irae Simone departs having played more than 50 games in Brumbies colours. Simone’s development saw the former Waratahs midfielder become a Wallaby and a key member of the Brumbies attack in his four seasons in Canberra.
Brumbies CEO, Phil Thomson said: “It’s always difficult to see both players and staff depart the club, especially this group who have contributed so well to the Brumbies but it is the nature of professional sport and life that people move on and it’s important to recognise them and to give our members, fans and other key stakeholders the opportunity to farewell those who have served the Brumbies so well.”
“Dan has led and coached the team with the same high level of commitment and passion this season as every other season and the organisation cannot thank him enough for the rugby program he has contributed to and developed in his nine seasons at the club, and we wish him and Ed Hollis who also departs all the best as they shift back to their roles with the Wallabies.
“Scott, Tom, Folau and Irae have all left a lasting impression in their time at the Brumbies, all playing more than 50 games for the club and we thank each of them for their commitment and contribution to the team both on and off the field.
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“It has been a privilege to have Scott as part of the organisation and to see him develop into a leader amongst the group from his time in the Academy to becoming a Wallaby and a world class prop. He will definitely go down as one of the special players in the history of the Brumbies.
“The team and the entire organisation are focused on finishing this season together on a high, starting with Saturday’s quarter-final against the Hurricanes which is a great occasion for our members, fans and key stakeholders to come out to GIO Stadium to support the team for what will be a very exciting and entertaining match.”
-Brumbies/Press Release
