With Chief Executive Phil Thomson preparing to stand down after seven years as Chair of the ACT Brumbies board, his successor has made his focus clear: securing the long term future of the club.
Joe Roff has been long regarded as one of the club’s greatest players, having scored 57 tries in 85 appearances - at the time, the competition record.
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Having come off a recent stint as President of Rugby Australia, the former outside back is focused on bringing that success over to the club.
"As one of the original Brumbies, we often talk about legacy, but legacy is not what you leave behind, it's what you set in motion," Roff explained to reporters on Wednesday.
"For me to return to the momentum of the Brumbies at the moment, on the back of so much hard work from so many good people, it's an incredible honour and responsibility and one that I'm looking forward to.
"Having worked closely with Rugby Australia over the past two years and obviously being from Canberra, I want to ensure that we're working hand in glove in this new era with Rugby Australia and at the same time assure everyone in Canberra, our stakeholders, our sponsors, our community players, that the Brumbies are Canberra owned, we're from Canberra, we're not going anywhere and this is our team here.
"Everyone understands that rationally, but I think in this new environment we just need to bed that down and I think that's one of the significant roles that I'll have in making sure that happens."
Roff will spearhead a new Brumbies Board that includes RA CEO Phil Waugh, RA Director Strategy & Special Projects, Alexandra Batten, Senior Director at NetApp Doug Stuart and former Deloitte partner and GAICID, FCA non-executive Director Alexandra Spark - with two further directors also set to be named.
Roff noted he was particularly excited to work with his old teammate and fellow Brumbies Legends inductee, Stephen Larkham.
"I can't wait to be working with Steve again," Roff said..
"When he withdrew from expressing an interest in applying for the Wallabies job, he said something to me that stayed with me and that is that he has unfinished business here in Canberra.
"I want to be a part of what he's doing and how he's leading that high performance environment and hope that I can support him in some way to get that next and that small step change that will lead to us bringing home a Super Rugby title."
Part of Roff's goal will also be to help the women's high performance program and bring a maiden Super Rugby Women's title to the ACT.
Despite finishing last in the 2025 season, 11 Brumbies went gone on to be selected for the Wallaroos' 2025 Pacific Four Series squad - with Siokapesi Palu named Wallaroo captain.
"One of the most important things for the Brumbies franchise is that we're driving the high performance environment for our Super Rugby Women's team, and bringing that trophy here to Canberra," said Roff.
"At the same time, [we must be] creating Wallaroos who will be playing in a home World Cup in four years' time.
"That has to be one of the main priorities of this new organisation and this new group who's looking to drive the Brumbies in a new direction."
While the new chair was excited to start work, Roff also took time to recognise the achievements of his predecessor. While Thompson is set to stand down after seven years as chair, his time at the Brumbies goes back a lot further.
"I was a young buck when Phil Thompson first started managing the Brumbies," Roff admitted.
"It was 30 years ago. He could be described as one of the great public servants of rugby. He's given his life to this game and to this club.
"I think what epitomises' Thomo' was his close friendship with the late great Garry 'Quinzo' Quinlivan - they represented the culture and the heart and soul of why this club feels like a family.
"For him to step down after so many years, we can only do so with the greatest of thanks."
