Fresh from a tough opening trial, ACT Brumbies Head Coach Stephen Larkham has named his squad for the second and final trial match of the 2026 season, with the Brumbies set to face the NSW Waratahs at Marist College, Canberra, on Thursday
The hit-out provides the final opportunity for players to push their case ahead of Round One of the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season. It also presents the first chance this season to reignite the rivalry with the Waratahs, who the Brumbies will not meet again until Round Seven on 27 March 2026 at GIO Stadium.
Larkham said the group had absorbed some hard truths from the opening trial and were determined to respond.
“We’ve had a good review of our first trial and whilst there are a few areas to work on in terms of cohesion and connection, we also saw some good individual performances,” Larkham said.
“
Playing in front of the fans at Marist always brings the best out of the players.”
The match will feature nine additions to last week’s trial squad, with James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Nick Frost, Rob Valetini, Ryan Lonergan, David Feliuai, Corey Toole, Luke Reimer and Ollie Sapsford all set to play their first game of the year as part of the
Brumbies’ final tune-up ahead of the season opener on 14 February against the Western Force in Perth.
The starting side will be captained by Ryan Lonergan, who partners Declan Meredith who shifts back to his traditional fly-half position. The backline features Andy Muirhead, Sapsford and Toole in the back three, while Feliuai links with Kadin Pritchard in a new-look midfield partnership.
The forward pack includes returning internationals Slipper and Pollard alongside Rhys van Nek in the front row, locks Lachie Shaw and Frost, and a barnstorming backrow of Valetini, Rory Scott and Charlie Cale.
The Brumbies will again utilise an extended bench, with Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Cadeyrn Neville, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton, Toby Macpherson, Tuaina Tualima, Austin Anderson and Kye Oates set to feature.
Rory Scott and Liam Bowron, both former Marist College students, are relishing the opportunity to play at their old stomping ground.
“We are looking forward to the opportunity to connect on the field as a team again,” Larkham said. “This game is a key step in our preparation for the season.”
Trial match, Thursday 5 February, 1.30pm kick-off AEDT
Marist College Canberra, 27 Marr St, Pearce, ACT 2607
ACT Brumbies vs. NSW Waratahs
ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs
1 James Slipper
2 Billy Pollard
3 Rhys van Nek
4 Lachlan Shaw
5 Nick Frost
6 Rob Valetini
7 Rory Scott
8 Charlie Cale
9 Ryan Lonergan
10 Declan Meredith
11 Corey Toole
12 David Feliuai
13 Kadin Pritchard
14 Ollie Sapsford
15 Andy Muirhead
Replacements: Liam Bowron, Blake Schoupp, Tevita Alatini, Cadeyrn Neville, Luke Reimer, Klayton Thorn, Tane Edmed, Hudson Creighton, Toby Macpherson, Tuaina Tualima, Austin Anderson, Kye Oates
Meanwhile, Number eight Pete Samu [pictured] will make his first appearance for the NSW Waratahs, against his former club, with eight changes in total from the starting XV that defeated the Reds 49-19 in Brisbane on Saturday. Wallabies Jake Gordon, Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii and Andrew Kellaway also come into the run-on team.
Waratahs head coach Dan McKellar was happy with his side’s showing in Brisbane and is expecting a much-improved Brumbies performance, following their 42-12 defeat to the Western Force in Perth last Friday.
“Team selection for Round 1 is going to be extremely challenging, which is exactly what you want as a Super Rugby coach,” McKellar said.
“We were pleased with the performance and application against the Reds, but we know that trial matches aren’t necessarily a true reflection of where teams are at.
“From a personal perspective, I just really enjoyed seeing the boys finally playing against some opposition other than themselves.
“We’re now looking forward to testing ourselves against the Brumbies and we’re expecting them to name a strong side, in front of their own fans in Canberra.”
Seven of the starting lineup from the Reds trial at the weekend keep their place, including the entire front row in Tom Lambert, Ethan Dobbins and Daniel Botha.
In the second row, Matt Philip again leads the side but shifts to tighthead lock, with Ben Grant coming into the loosehead side.
Clem Halaholo retains the number six shirt following his try-scoring display at the weekend. Charlie Gamble, man of the match in both of his previous games of rugby against the British & Irish Lions for the Waratahs and First Nations & Pasifika XV, starts at openside flanker, with Samu anchoring the scrum at eight.
In the halves, Gordon is partnered by Jack Debreczeni, who is set to also feature for the Tahs for the first time and against his former club.
Joey Walton retains his spot at inside centre after an impressive performance at the weekend, with Suaalii partnering him in the centres.
Harry Potter again lines up on the right wing, after scoring an intercept try in only the second minute of his first appearance for the club against the Reds, with Jorgensen named on the left wing after signing his new, five-year deal with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia last week. Kellaway completes the team at full back, where he regularly appeared for the Wallabies in 2025.
13 players take their place on the bench, with wing Triston Reilly set to make his first appearance of the season off the bench.
The match on Thursday will act as the Waratahs’ final piece of preparation ahead of the start of the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific season, where they face the Queensland Reds in Round 1 of at Allianz Stadium on Friday 13 February.
NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies:
1 Tom Lambert
2 Ethan Dobbins
3 Daniel Botha
4 Ben Grant
5 Matt Philip ©
6 Clem Halaholo
7 Charlie Gamble
8 Pete Samu
9 Jake Gordon
10 Jack Debreczeni
11 Max Jorgensen
12 Joey Walton
13 Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii
14 Harry Potter
15 Andrew Kellaway
Replacements: Folau Faingaa, Isaac Kailea, Apolosi Ranawai, Angus Blyth, Leafi Talataina, Jamie Adamson, Teddy Wilson, Lawson Creighton, Sid Harvey, James Hendren, George Poolman, Triston Reilly, Ioane Moananu