The ACT Brumbies have announced their lineup for the opening match of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season where they will face the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday evening.
Ryan Lonergan will lead a strong squad that features 2023 John Eales Medalist Rob Valetini along with other international quality players such as James Slipper, Tom Hooper, Noah Lolesio, Len Ikitau, Tom Wright, Billy Pollard and Blake Schoupp.
Wallabies lock Nick Frost will play his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game for the Brumbies after debuting off the bench in 2020 against the Rebels.
Meanwhile, despite their position in the competition looking rather bleak beyond this season, the Rebels have named a strong outfit.
Rob Leota will captain the squad while Carter Gordon and Andrew Kellaway headline the backs.
The Gordon vs Lolesio battle shapes as one of the key matchups as the two Wallaby hopefuls try to impress early in the season.
Brumbies vs Rebels squads
Brumbies | Rebels | |
James Slipper | 1 | Matt Gibbon |
Lachlan Lonergan | 2 | Jordan Uelese |
Rhys Van Nek | 3 | Sam Talakai |
Nick Frost | 4 | Josh Canham |
Tom Hooper | 5 | Lukhan Salakaia-Loto |
Rob Valetini | 6 | Josh Kemeny |
Luke Reimer | 7 | Brad Wilkin |
Charlie Cale | 8 | Rob Leota (C) |
Ryan Lonergan (C) | 9 | Jack Maunder |
Noah Lolesio | 10 | Carter Gordon |
Andy Muirhead | 11 | Glen Vaihu |
Ollie Sapsford | 12 | David Felicia |
Len Ikitau | 13 | Filipo Daugunu |
Corey Toole | 14 | Lachie Anderson |
Tom Wright | 15 | Andrew Kellaway |
Billy Pollard | 16 | Alex Mafi |
Blake Schoupp | 17 | Isaac Kaile |
Sefo Kautai | 18 | Taniela Tupou |
Cadeyrn Neville | 19 | Tuaiana Taii Tualima |
Jahrome Brown | 20 | Vaiolini Ekuasi |
Klayton Thorn | 21 | James Tuttle |
Declan Meredith | 22 | Jake Strachan |
Tamati Tua | 23 | Nick Jooste |