Brumbies action is coming to Bungendore this September for the Super Rugby AUS tournament. Photo: Jayzie Photography.
Thousands of rugby fans are expected to flock to Bungendore to kick off the Super Rugby AUS campaign.
The classic rivalry between the ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs will be hosted at the Bungendore Sports Hub on 13 September at 2 pm.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Kenrick Winchester said it had all come about after a chat with the Canberra-based team.
“We’ve got a thriving rugby community in Queanbeyan-Palerang, with local clubs Bungendore Mudchooks, Queanbeyan Whites, and Braidwood Redbacks flying the flag, and it is going to be fantastic for local rugby fans to see the ACT-NSW rivalry up close at the Bungendore Sports Hub,” he said.
“Following discussions about hosting a match in our area, the Brumbies reached out with the opportunity to host this Super Rugby AUS game.
“We hope to see a strong turnout, with 2500 to 3000 attendees anticipated … make sure you get your tickets as soon as they’re on sale, for what should be a great experience!”
Super Rugby AUS is a four-team competition featuring the Brumbies, Waratahs, Queensland Reds and Western Force, battling it out across three rounds.
The top two teams advance to the grand final on Saturday, 3 October.
ACT Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham said the competition was an important chance to build depth while maintaining the competitive edge of Australia’s leading players.
“This competition gives our younger players meaningful minutes in a high-performance environment while allowing our experienced players to keep building their game,” he said.
“It creates genuine competition for spots heading into next season. Every game matters, and we’re looking forward to getting our campaign underway in Bungendore in front of our supporters.”
After the Bungendore opener, the Brumbies head west to face the Western Force at North Coast Rugby Club in Perth on 20 September at 3:30 pm (AEST). They’ll then return home to Canberra’s Viking Park to host the Queensland Reds in the final round on 27 September at 2 pm.
Brumbies forward Toby Macpherson said the tournament presented the perfect opportunity for emerging players to make their mark.
“For guys like me, it’s a chance to play good minutes against quality opposition and prove we belong at this level,” he said.
“You can’t replicate match experience, so having another competition after Super Rugby Pacific is massive. Everyone will be pushing to make an impression, and I know the boys are excited to get stuck into it.”
Running alongside the senior competition is the Super Rugby U16 Tournament, providing Australia’s best young players with a platform to represent their Super Rugby clubs and showcase the next generation of talent.
Under Super Rugby U16’s new 2026 model, the Reds, Western Force and Victoria squads will go into camp while playing back-to-back fixtures in Canberra.
There will be no finals fixtures in Super Rugby U16, with the champion to be determined by the final competition ladder.
All Super Rugby AUS games will be broadcast live on the rugby.com.au YouTube channel. Tickets for the Bungendore and Viking Park fixtures are yet to be released.