The Brumbies in 2014

Recruitment

The Brumbies have recruited well in the off season and have complemented the domestic recruitment of Jarrad Butler from the Queensland Reds, who will probably feature highly after Auelua’s injury, with foreigners filling the remainder of the roster.

Second rower Jack Whetton has excellent sporting pedigree with his father Gary and uncle Alan representing the All Blacks during the 80’s and his decision to forego a wider training group position with the Blues caused a bit of a stir considering his family ties there. That decision is even more interesting now that Blues lock Culum Retallick has been ruled out for six months with an ACL injury to his knee.

In the backs, South African recruit Lionel Cronje possesses a booming kick that can pin down teams and Japanese player Harumichi Tatekawa is highly rated by Japanese national coach Eddie Jones and his Kubota Spears coach former Wallaby Toutai Kefu and trial form shows they won’t be out of place in a Brumbies backline if given the opportunity.

Another South African in Conrad Hoffmann has been recruited from Cape Town as backup to Nic White. He has played Super Rugby with the Sharks and also has Currie Cup experience with Western Province under his belt.

The Extended Playing Squad sees Stephan van der Walt retain his place from 2013 and is joined in the backs by Northern Suburbs scrum half Michael Dowsett. The Forwards members of the EPS are Jean-Pierre Smith (twin brother of Ruan) who had been training with the team in 2013, Lachlan McCaffrey from the Western Force and Australian Under 20’s representative prop Allan Alaalatoa, whose father Vili represented Samoa in the 1991 World Cup alongside Scott Sio’s father David (small world).

2014 Squad

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Backs

Robbie Coleman
Lionel Cronje
Michael Dowsett (EPS)
Conrad Hoffmann
Tevita Kuridrani
Christian Lealiifano
Pat McCabe
Jesse Mogg
Clyde Rathbone
Andrew Smith
Henry Speight
Harumichi Tatekawa
Joe Tomane
Matt Toomua
Stephan van der Walt (EPS)
Nic White
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Forwards

Allan Alaalatoa (EPS)
Ben Alexander
Fotu Auelua
Jarrad Butler
Sam Carter
Scott Fardy
Josh Mann-Rea
Lachlan McCaffrey (EPS)
Stephen Moore
Ben Mowen
Ruaidhri Murphy
David Pocock
Leon Power
Siliva Siliva
Scott Sio
Jordan Smiler
Jean-Pierre Smith (EPS)
Ruan Smith
Jack Whetton
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TRANSFERS

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IN

Allan Alaalatoa – West Harbour (Shute Shield)
Lionel Cronje – Lions (South Africa)
Michael Dowsett – Norths (Shute Shield)
Conrad Hoffmann – Hamiltons (Cape Town, South Africa)
Lachlan McCaffrey – Western Force
Harumichi Tatekawa – Kubota (Japan)
Jack Whetton – Auckland
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OUT

Tom Cox – Released
Colby Fainga’a – Melbourne Rebels
Zack Holmes – Western Force
Peter Kimlin – Grenoble (France)
Etienne Oosthuizen – Sharks (South Africa)
Dan Palmer – Grenoble (France)
Ian Prior – Western Force
George Smith – Loan from Suntory expired
Mark Swanepoel – Released
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Fixtures

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Round 1 – N/A
Round 2 – 22/2 Reds, Canberra – 19:40
Round 3 – 1/3 Force, Perth – 19:00
Round 4 – 7/3 Hurricanes, Wellington – 19:35
Round 5 – 15/3 Waratahs, Canberra – 19:40
Round 6 – 22/3 Stormers, Canberra – 19:40
Round 7 – 28/3 Rebels, Melbourne – 19:40
Round 8 – 4/4 Blues, Canberra – 19:40
Round 9 – 11/4 Reds, Brisbane – 19:40
Round 10 – Bye
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Round 11 – 25/4 Chiefs, Canberra – 17:40
Round 12 – 3/5 Crusaders, Christchurch – 16:35
Round 13 – 10/5 Sharks, Canberra – 19:40
Round 14 – 17/5 Cheetahs, Bloemfontein – 19:10
Round 15 – 24/5 Bulls, Pretoria – 19:10
Round 16 – 31/5 Rebels, Canberra – 19:40
Round 17 – 28/6 Waratahs, ANZ, Sydney – 19:40
Round 18 – Bye
Round 19 – 11/7 Force, Canberra, 19:40
All times local.
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