The ACT Brumbies have recorded their maiden Swyftx Super Rugby AUS victory, defeating the Queensland Reds 33–26 in the final clash of the 2026 season.
As the clouds rolled over Viking Park, a light drizzle accompanied both teams onto the field for the afternoon kick-off, making for slippery conditions from the outset.
Both sides spent the opening exchanges testing each other out, with the greasy pill proving a handful for both attacks. Twice the Brumbies were robbed of breakaway intercept tries, the ball slipping through fingers like a cake of soap.
The Reds had the lion’s share of the opening possession, sending wave after wave at the Brumbies defence. The ACT side held firm for the opening quarter before a yellow card to hooker Liam Bowron for repeated infringements provided the opening Queensland needed.
Hands Down the left flank capitalised on the man advantage, with winger Tim Ryan diving over next to the posts to score the opening points. Fullback Ben Volavola converted to give the visitors a seven-point advantage with 15 minutes remaining in the half.
But it was the home side who produced the moment of the match in the 30th minute — and who else but Corey Toole.
Camped inside the Reds’ 22, the Brumbies were hot on attack when a grubber from fly-half Tane Edmed pinballed off defenders and Toole’s own hands. But the lightning-quick back put the pedal to the metal, regathering the ball moments before it hit the grass to touch down and put his side on the board.
Edmed couldn’t convert from out wide, but the Brumbies were back in the contest at 7–5.
The Brumbies then went bang-bang, with captain Toby Macpherson powering his way over under the posts from close range. Edmed made no mistake with the conversion, putting the Brumbies in front with five minutes remaining in the half.
The Reds had the final say before oranges, however, with their own captain Matt Faessler burrowing over from close range in the dying stages.
Volavola couldn’t convert this time, sending both teams to the sheds locked at 12-all.
The Brumbies charged out of the gate in the second half, scoring inside the opening five minutes.
Outside centre Kadin Pritchard scooped up a loose pill and produced a stunning solo effort, hot-stepping past three defenders before ghosting through a gap on the right to score his side’s third try. Edmed slotted the conversion to put the men in white seven points clear.
Head Coach Stephen Larkham turned to his reinforcements with 30 minutes to play, making the most of the extended 10-man bench available in the Super Rugby AUS tournament.
It was super-sub Darcy ‘Breen Machine’ Breen who proved his coach a genius, scoring his second meat pie in as many weeks. Edmed potted the conversion to extend the lead to 26–12 in the 55th minute.
The Brumbies had found their mojo.
Triston Reilly then started — and finished — a try straight off the top shelf. The new Brumbies winger stepped his opposite on his own 40-metre line, sprinted 30 metres into open space before combining in a slick 1-2 with wing partner Ollie Sapsford, beating the remaining defenders to dive over in the left corner.
Edmed was again sure-footed off the tee, stretching the lead to 33–12 as the game entered its final quarter.
A second yellow card to the Brumbies, this time to centre David Feliuai, opened the door for the Reds in the late stages.
The Queenslanders capitalised, with reserve scrum-half Flynn McDermott taking a quick tap to dot down in front of the posts. Volavola converted.
The Reds crossed once more in the final minute to cut the margin to seven, but it was too little, too late, with the Brumbies running out 33–26 victors.
It wraps up the Super Rugby AUS season in style for the ACT Brumbies, with Head Coach Stephen Larkham unearthing a host of exciting young talents and planting the seeds of rugby that will bear fruit when Super Rugby Pacific kicks off in February.
