Declan Meredith lays down clear 2026 goal as Brumbies selection calls loom

ACT Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith has revealed his clear goal for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season: lock down a starting spot. Whether that’s steering the team around the park as the first-choice fly-half or lining up at fullback, Meredith wants to be in the First XV.

There are some vacancies in the Brumbies’ run-on side, as they prepare to usher in a new dawn of sorts without some front-line stars. Noah Lolesio has left the club, and Wallabies fullback Tom Wright has been sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

Meredith debuted for the Brumbies at Super Rugby level against the Crusaders on March 24, 2023, but didn’t get a chance in the starting side until last year. After 12 appearances off the bench, Meredith was named to start in the No. 10 jersey against the Western Force last February.

Meredith started four of 12 appearances for the Brums last season, lining up at fly-half against the Force, Chiefs, Blues and Queensland Reds. With Lolesio no longer at the Brumbies, there is a spot up for grabs, but Meredith faces some tough competition.

Wallabies pivot Tane Edmed has made the move south from the NSW Waratahs, citing the chance to learn under Stephen ‘Bernie’ Larkham as one of the reasons behind the transfer. Edmed started a handful of Tests for the Wallabies last year but Meredith hasn’t backed down from the challenge.

“All I can do is just focus on myself and keep pushing my best case forward,” Meredith told reporters in Canberra.

“Obviously we’ve got Tane in now which is great. We’re just feeding off each other, learning off each other, and I’m learning a lot off him. He’s obviously the Wallabies 10 at the moment so there’s a lot of things I don’t know in my gam that he knows and it’s great to just bounce off him.

“It’s a good mutual respect and connection there. It’s just a good opportunity for me mainly to learn off him. He’s, like I said, the Wallabies 10 at the moment so any wisdom he’s got to pass on is good for me.

“I think for me, just to try and lock down a starting spot, if that’s fullback or 10,” he added when asked about his goals for 2026. “Just trying to be in the 23 as much as I can and then hopefully lock down a spot in the starting XV.”

The Brumbies start their season away to the Western Force on Valentine’s Day before facing two New Zealand opponents in as many weeks. They will travel across the ditch to take on the Crusaders in Christchurch before hosting the Blues on February 28.

In 2025, the Brumbies played two New Zealand opponents in the playoffs, winning one of those matches. The men from Australia’s capital overcame the Hurricanes 35-28 on June 7 in the quarters before falling to the Chiefs 37-17 a week later.

“It’s always gonna be a tough challenge no matter what draw we get,” Meredith reflected.

“Two New Zealand teams is always gonna be tough so all we can do is just keep our preparation, just focus on ourselves, and when that time comes, just get ready to rip in against them.”