It was all about family when ACT Brumbies player and Yuin man Jarrah McLeod made his professional rugby union debut at 21 in an international match.
McLeod was part of the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika XV team during the recent British and Irish Lions tour in Australia, alongside Brumbies teammate Barunggam man Andy Muirhead.
“When I found out, I was pretty shocked to be honest,” he told CD.
“The emotions were high. But the meaning for it, you get to put your family name, your people on your heart and you get to go out there and play, so it meant a lot.
“I didn’t have any tears until after all that when I saw my family.
“But just to be out there and run out, especially for the islander boys and then especially for us Indigenous boys.”
Looking ahead, Jarrah will be taking part in the inaugural Super Rugby AUS competition, which includes a match against the NSW Waratahs at Viking Park on Saturday 27 September.
The triple header will feature matches by under 16s, 19s and senior teams.
“I think it’s going to be exciting. Every single super club’s going to bring some young boys like myself and some young talent,” he said.
“It’s going to be a lot of combinations to fill, it could get a bit scrappy every now and then, but I feel like every single team in that Super Aus is pretty handy.
“So I reckon it’s going to be an exciting game, a tough game, but hopefully the Brumbies can get on top.”
McLeod said the community should attend because it was expected to be an exciting game.
“It’s going to be a cracker day at home. And who doesn’t love to see the ACT Brums beat the Tahs (Waratahs) at home?” he said.
“So hopefully everyone can come down and enjoy the day and watch a good load of footy.”
Growing up in Nowra, McLeod said he didn’t have much knowledge of rugby union.
“I was growing up into a league-y boy, so it was pretty much league my whole life,” he said.
While attending Knox Grammar School in Sydney, McLeod decided to give union a “crack”.
“I didn’t really know much about it, I didn’t know how to play it really, but I just stuck with it and it just worked out,” he said.
“And I was doing a bit of league and then a bit of union at school and then playing league on the weekends in Sydney.”
While McLeod preferred league, it was during his HSC years that he began to fall in love with union.
He came to be with the Canberra team through the Brumbies Indigenous Pathways Program, which bridges the gap for talented players from club and school rugby to elite Super Rugby. It is instrumental in developing players and coaches with its key focus on the improvement of their core skills and physical development.
“Oh man, it’s been good really. The club and the support that you get from the guys in the Indigenous program make you feel like you’re at another home, like a safe place.”
In July, the ACT Brumbies signed McLeod on a two-year deal.
Tickets for the Super Rugby AUS match in Canberra can be purchased at eventbrite.com.au/e/2025-super-rugby-aus-safeguard-global-act-brumbies-vs-nsw-waratahs-tickets-1603374429079
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