Date & Time: Sunday, 13 September 2026, 2:00pm AEST
Venue: Bungendore Sports Hub, Bungendore
Broadcast: Stan Sport, Rugby.com.au
The Lowdown
Taking an iconic 30-year interstate rivalry to regional NSW, this Bungendore clash claims the crown as the Underdog’s Game of the Week. For pure rugby fairytales, look no further than Brumbies lock Josh Townsend. At 33 years old, Townsend transitions from Assistant Team Manager managing kit bags and logistics directly into the starting XV. He locks down the second row alongside 21-year-old Toby Macpherson, who captains the Brumbies for the first time in a side featuring 10 debutants including Finn Baxter, son of Wallabies legend Al Baxter, off the bench.
The defending champion Waratahs arrive with an equally compelling story. Head coach Lachlan McCaffrey named 20-year-old lock Eamon Doyle team captain before he has logged a single minute of Super Rugby Pacific action. Doyle leads a pack reinforced by Wallabies experience in Miles Amatosero and Pete Samu. In the backline, last season Super Rugby AUS tournament MVP Max Burey pairs with fresh Shute Shield champion Teddy Wilson in the halves, while Super Rugby Rookie of the Year Sid Harvey anchors the back three.
Expect maximum intensity as regional NSW hosts top-tier domestic rugby.
Underdog’s Tip
Brumbies playing in front of a passionate Bungendore crowd will draw extra energy late. Expect the combination of Tane Edmed and Corey Toole to pull through a tight, high-scoring affair in the final 20 minutes.
Brumbies by 5 points.
Team Lists
Team lists are correct as of release via Super Rugby on Wednesday.
ACT Brumbies
- Lington Ieli, 2. Liam Bowron, 3. Rhys van Nek, 4. Josh Townsend, 5. Toby Macpherson (c), 6. Eli Langi, 7. TJ Talaileva, 8. Oscar Cleary, 9. Klayton Thorn, 10. Tane Edmed, 11. Corey Toole, 12. David Feliuai, 13. Kadin Pritchard, 14. Ollie Sapsford, 15. Triston Reilly.
Replacements: 16. Ewald Kruger, 17. Finn Baxter, 18. Darcy Breen, 19. Tu’ukalikali Vaipulu, 20. Darcy Fogarty, 21. Dan Nelson, 22. Oscar Shaw, 23. Dylan Bretton, 24. Jarrah McLeod, 25. TBC.
NSW Waratahs
- Tom Lambert, 2. Ethan Dobbins, 3. Edwin Langi, 4. Eamon Doyle (c), 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Justice Taumoepeau, 7. Marshall Le Maitre, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Teddy Wilson, 10. Max Burey, 11. Freedom Vahaakolo, 12. George Poolman, 13. Otto Serfontein, 14. Latrell Smiler Ah-Kiong, 15. Sid Harvey.
Replacements: 16. Oniti Finau, 17. Isaac Kailea, 18. Brady Dawson, 19. Will Goddard, 20. Tom Girle, 21. Angus Scott-Young, 22. Isaac Fonua, 23. Angus Grover, 24. Joe Dillon, 25. Jack Hardy.
Scroll inside the box for match stats
It was a great afternoon of Rugby at my local. Brumbies players going to the local primary school on the Friday was loved by the kids.
The day started off with the final of the newly created Brumbies Shield. Modelled on the FA cup. 16 teams including country and ACT clubs. The local Bungendore team took it to the Vikings, with the Vikings winning 35-33.
How good is it to watch pro players at a country rugby ground. A bigger plus was there was no commentary from Justin Harrison and very little of the parochial Brumbies fans bemoaning every ref call that didn’t go the way of the Brumbies.
The Tah’s halves of Teddy Wilson (surely he’s getting close to a Wallabies squad inclusion) and Max Burrey controlled the game well and is a good sign for 2027 given they may be the starting halves. Max Burrey is a great pickup as he is a great organiser and deceptively quick with a handy boot. Miles played well and didn’t do anything stupid.
For the Brumbies, Corey Toole showed he can make things happen with very little space. Aiden Stait is a big human but needs a good offseason to be able to keep up with the pace of SRP next year. Hope Jarrah McLeod and Toby McPherson get a bit of time next year.
The day was finished off by the Brumbies v’s Tahs u19s. Fun to watch, but I must say it is hard to keep up with the different junior comps, especially the crowding around u16, u18 Schoolboy squads, u19s academy, and u20s national teams. Feel they could be better aligned.
We need fellas the size of Aiden Stait – go you good thing!
Agree, but still needs to get a little fitter. Having locks like Will, Miles, Lukan and Aidan might start to make us look a little competitive, especially when put in with Canham, Hooper and Williams…meanwhile we still have Izaac Rhodda, Matt Philip, Leota and Frost not in the frame.
I’ve got Teddy and Kalani bracketed to usurp Tate.
Burey and HMP bracketed to keep Donno honest until Carter is back.
That are both as tough as a young Foley but with more creativity.
Thought HMP was MOTM on the weekend. Not sure who the gong actually went to
Glad to see Amatosero was a good boy. He needs more game time to get fitness up.
Doesn’t seem like scrums are allowed in sr au. There’s always a short arm or a full arm penalty, mostly before they even pack in. Front rowers might not be required for this comp
So your bitching here then call me out
I
Boo hoo
A bit upset after the 3-1 are you farcey? Gee NZ looked second rate in Baltimore
They were absolutely smashed , not upset at all 3-1 was predictable as often stated
Tell me that wasn’t fwd. Poor officialdom.
But the tahs looking slick.
Complaining about the ref? Only kiwi fans do that right?
It’s a oz game oz officials if you watched it and had a back bone you would agree
Is pepperoni Chappo to?
I’m chappo
I want jacko back
Makes sense. It’s probably you.
I want Kearnsey back
I said it was a blatant fwd pass tah try then said the tahs are very slick overall but if you dont agree it shows you dont have a true backbone and more into fighting and bullying .what a goat farker you are ya
Hey farkers, that wasn’t forward!!
Burey can get distance from his lineout kicks, something most Aussie tens don’t do well
Samu gets belted and then gets penalised for his trouble
I might even get on the Teddy Wilson bus soon. About the same as McDermott only he can pass
Teddy > Tate inho
Blooming hell nsw on fire
Soft try that mirt
Burey for the wallabies
Stop it Mirt! As soon as a Tahs 10s makes the Wallabies another club recruits them!
Although we do have an actual Wallaby 10 in the squad, can I interest any of our fellow Super AU teams in young Nard Foley?
Na. Don’t think so
Getting Burey back is a good move. Years ahead of where Tane, Jack Bowen or Creighton were. Him and Nard might provide some better game management next year.
G’day Phil. Am quite pleased to see Burey in the squad.
Max backed up by Bowen and Fowler would have been a good trio IMO.
Hire one of Debreczeni or Foley as a coach if they want an experienced mentor around the players.
Like to judge after a few more games