The ACT Brumbies have set the standard for both the Australian and non-NZ sides, but the 2026 season looms as a major challenge for them to maintain that label.
With only two weeks' break for the Australian players either side of the holiday season, preparations will begin quickly for the Super Rugby Pacific season, which kicks off in mid-February.
Watch every second of Super Rugby Pacific live and on demand via Stan Sport.
Rugby.com.au dives deep into all the talking points for the Australian Super Rugby sides ahead of the 2026 season commencing.
So, what lies in store for the men from Canberra?
Based on the Super Rugby AUS season, pundits would be forgiven for thinking the Brumbies might already be having a downturn, but it proved far from the case.
Being handed by far the toughest draw of the campaign, two away trips to Perth and Brisbane and hosting the ladder-leading Waratahs at home, coach Stephen Larkham opted for a next-gen-led approach, bringing the senior squad, U19s and U16s all together.
His senior side may have finished with the wooden spoon, but the short season gave Larkham several great options to fill the departures of several key players.
It will be a younger side that takes the field in Canberra next year, but it will be one that can, like previous sides, can adapt to pressure and counterattack brilliantly, as evidenced by their recent 63-31 defeat of Hong Kong.
The new arrivals are spearheaded by centre Jarrah McLeod, having made the Super Rugby AUS Team of the Tournament off the back of his impressive performance for the First Nations Pasifika XV.
With a Len Ikitau-sided hole to fill, Larkham will also take positives out of the performances of youngster Kadin Pritchard, who should add plenty of versatility to the centres and back three, with Ollie Sapsford, David Feliuai and Austin Anderson also in the mix.
Declan Meredith also enjoyed a strong 2025 season at flyhalf, emerging as one of the most promising halves options behind the current pack of players.
Australia U20s stars Eli Langi and Toby Macpherson are set to add more pressure to the stack loose forwards position, while Lington Ieli is also a player to watch, impressing for the Brumbies and First Nations Pasifika XV as a dangerous front row option.
However, with these new arrivals, cohesion is the big challenge.
There is no doubt of the talent available in Canberra, but as seen with the Highlanders last year, with a difficult draw across the entire season, that young talent is going to need to dig deep to push for finals.
It’s been a centrepiece of discussion around the Brumbies in 2026: how will they go with key Wallabies departing?
Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau and Noah Lolesio headline the big losses in Canberra, with all three in critical positions and all having strong seasons in 2025.
They will also be limited by the loss of arguably the most dangerous player in their backline, Tom Wright, whose ACL injury against the Springboks means he likely won’t be available until at least May, missing at least 11 rounds of competition.
However, Larkham still has 13 other Wallabies to call upon, eight of whom have been regular features in Joe Schmidt’s outfit.
Charlie Cale and Blake Schoupp will be available after extensive time on the sidelines. Also, Corey Toole has a well-established partnership with Andy Muirhead in the back three, and seven Wallabies can fill the tight five, spearheaded by Allan Alaalatoa.
Then, there is the recently retired James Slipper, who is on track to become the most capped Super Rugby player of all time.
The Brumbies' loose forward depth is also still one of their big strengths despite Hooper’s departure, with Wallabies Cale, Luke Reimer and Rob Valetini backed up by Tuaina Taii Tualima and Rory Scott.
The big new inclusion is that of Tane Edmed, who will fill Lolesio’s role and looks set for serious game time and guidance under Larkham.
Combined with a steady hand in Ryan Lonergan, the new halves combination firing will be a critical factor in the Brumbies’ season.
This is the crux of their season: how do the Brumbies navigate such a difficult draw?
Unlike their Australian counterparts, who will all have opportunities to string wins together, the Brumbies' schedule includes potholes and banana-skin games throughout the season.
They will travel to Perth, Christchurch and Fiji inside the first five rounds, plus they will have tough home games against the Blues, Chiefs and Reds.
After their first bye, there is a chance to build momentum, with several winnable games in consecutive weeks - but it comes with a trip to Brisbane and two trips to New Zealand.
The season does get easier in the closing stages with a bye and two home games, but it comes with a Waratah derby in Sydney, giving the men from Canberra a lot of moving parts to consider.
The 2025 season saw pundits predicting the Reds would overtake the Brumbies as the non-Kiwi side leading the charge, and surprise losses at home to the likes of the Western Force and the Hurricanes seemed to confirm an ACT slide initially.
Yet, the Brumbies still made their fourth consecutive semi-final - and pulled off incredible wins, defeating the Drua in Fiji and the title-defending Blues at Eden Park.
Stephen Larkham has shown in his second tenure that he has a side that is close to being title contenders, and looking for that final gear to push the Brumbies to the top of the ladder has been his Everest.
While 2026 looks set to throw more challenges their way - Larkham, along with a talented coaching staff in Rod Seib, John Ulugia and Ben Mowen - also have an opportunity to surprise many.
With the squad they have assembled, the Brumbies can’t be discounted from leading the non-Kiwi pack again; and maybe finally getting over that semi-final hurdle to challenge for a title.
