In 2027, the Brumbies will bring Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific back to Corroboree Group Oval Manuka for the first time in more than 30 years, with two special matches transforming the historic venue into the centrepiece of a celebration of rugby in the heart of Canberra.
The Brumbies will face the Western Force on Friday, 19 March, before taking on the Queensland Reds on Saturday, 10 April.
Across two weekends, Manuka will come alive with the energy of Super Rugby, creating a festival atmosphere that extends beyond the field and into one of Canberra’s most vibrant cultural precincts.
ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation, Chris Steel said:
“Today, we are delighted to officially announce that the ACT Brumbies will return to Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka in 2027 for two Super Rugby matches, bringing elite rugby back to this iconic Canberra venue for the first time in more than 30 years.”
“These two matches will be about more than what happens on the field. We want Manuka to come alive across the two weekends, creating a festival atmosphere and bringing people into one of Canberra’s most vibrant cultural and sporting precincts.”
The timing could not be more fitting.
2027 marks 100 years since the creation of Canberra’s first rugby club and 90 years since the inception of ACT Rugby, while the Brumbies will build on their own 30-year history, celebrated in 2026.
As Canberra rugby raises the bat to mark 100 years, the game returns to one of the city’s most iconic sporting stages.
Once the home of rugby in the capital, hosting the Canberra Kookaburras and local John I Dent Cup finals, the Brumbies have remarkably played there just once before – and what a game that was.
In 1996, Joe Roff etched his name into the venue’s history, scoring four tries on the iconic Jack Fingleton Scoreboard to help the Brumbies record a famous victory over the Natal Sharks.
ACT Brumbies Chairman, Joe Roff said:
“Today is a special day for the Brumbies and for Canberra rugby.”
“There is a real sense of excitement around rugby in the ACT and Southern NSW at the moment, and I think that makes the return to Manuka particularly special.”
“GIO Stadium is our home, but Corroboree Group Oval Manuka gives us a completely different opportunity to connect with our community. It’s a historic venue, right in the heart of Canberra, and there’s something special about taking the Brumbies into that environment.”
Now, more than three decades later, a new generation of Brumbies will have the chance to add their own chapter to Manuka’s rich sporting history.
And as Canberra celebrates the origins of its rugby story, the city is also looking firmly towards the future. The Wallabies will return to the capital for the first time in a decade to face Ireland at GIO Stadium rounding out their preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The path to the 2027 Rugby World Cup starts with Super Rugby in Canberra. And the heart of rugby in Canberra is Manuka.
