The ACT Brumbies have recently unveiled the roster of 34 players who will form their squad for the upcoming 2024 Super Rugby Women’s Season. The squad is set to kick off their Round 1 fixture on Saturday, March 16 at Allianz Stadium against the NSW Waratahs.
Head Coach Scott Fava is pleased to welcome back a total of 18 players from last year’s 2023 Super W Squad, including Wallaroos representatives and Brumbies captain Siokapesi Palu, Tania Naden, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Jasmin Huriwai, and 2023 Rugby Australia Junior Women’s Player of the Year, Faitala Moleka.
In an exciting development, Fijian international Iris Verebalavu is set to return in 2024, and Kolora Lomani will be making the move from the Fijian Drua to join the team. Additionally, there are several notable recruits for the year, such as Katalina Amosa (NSW Waratahs) and former Australian representative Kayla Sauvao.
Fava has expressed his enthusiasm with the current state of the Women’s game at the Brumbies and remains optimistic about the club’s potential to surpass last season’s performance. He stated, “We have a great atmosphere amongst the staff and playing squad with the majority of our core playing group from last year committing for the 2024 Season. We have a great balance of seasoned players mixed with a number of youngsters who have been elevated from our inaugural Women’s Academy Program that commenced in 2023 and in partnership with the University of Canberra.”
Notably, six Academy graduates have been named in this year’s squad, further underscoring the strength of the program. This batch includes Martha Fua, Lily Bone, Anastasia Martin, Becka Marsters, Erika Maslen, and Chioma Enyi.
The addition of Joanne Butler (Papua New Guinea) and Neomai Vunga (Tonga) as part of a joint partnership between Oceania Rugby and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s flagship program, PacificAus Sports, is a significant development. Both athletes were rewarded for their performance at the Oceania Rugby Women’s Combine delivered in collaboration with World Rugby last August.
Chris Thomson, General Manager of Professional Rugby and Pathways, emphasized the organisation’s investment in the Women’s game and its commitment to working with external stakeholders to provide opportunities for athletes to partake at the elite level. He stated, “Our pathways system is crucial to helping sustain the future of the ACT Brumbies for both our men’s and women’s academy programs.”
Siokapesi Palu, the captain of ACT Brumbies Super Rugby Womens, expressed her focus on the upcoming trials as the squad continues to build for the season ahead. She remarked, “The squad has come together really well this preseason. There has been an injection of new players in the team which has brought energy to the group.”
The 2024 Super Rugby Women’s ACT Brumbies will participate in two more trial matches before their season opener. These include a face-off against the NSW Waratahs and an invitational Pasifika XV.
In conclusion, the ACT Brumbies have assembled a formidable roster for the 2024 Super Rugby Women’s Season, and fans eagerly await the commencement of the season to see the team in action.