Five starting debuts for Brumbies as Valetini to hit 100 in Fiji

Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham has made nine changes to his matchday team for the Fijian Drua, a strong departure from the continuity that has featured so strictly over the opening four rounds of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The changes come on the back of the team’s first loss of the campaign, and although the Brums still sit atop the table, some rest and rotation has been deemed the remedy for a squad under huge physical demand.

The big changes include the return of Rob Valetini, who will play his 100th Super Rugby game, and Nick Frost, who makes his season debut. James Slipper has not been named to play in the contest, with the round 6 home clash against the Chiefs his next opportunity to break Wyatt Crockett’s all-time record for Super Rugby caps, which he equalled last weekend.

There are plenty of youngsters in line for milestones of their own, with props Lington Ieli and Darcy Breen, lock Toby Macpherson, halfback Klayton Thorn, and playmaker Tane Edmed all in line for their first starts as Brumbies players.

Andy Muirhead will start at fullback and has been named captain for the game.

“We learnt a lot from last week,” Larkham said of the last-gasp Reds loss.

“Sometimes you take more out of a loss than a win. The chaos of that game gave our players some really good learnings around how to adapt and overcome challenges during a match. This week presents another opportunity for growth and to test ourselves once more in Fiji.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

30

31

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

Brumbies team to play the Fijian Drua

1. Lington Ieli
2. Billy Pollard
3. Darcy Breen
4. Nick Frost
5. Toby MacPherson
6. Tuaina Tualima
7. Luke Reimer
8. Rob Valetini
9. Klayton Thorn
10. Tane Edmed
11. Kye Oates
12. David Feliuai
13. Kadin Pritchard
14. Corey Toole
15. Andy Muirhead (C)

Reserves

16. Liam Bowron
17. Blake Schoupp
18. Tevita Alatini
19. Lachlan Shaw
20. Rory Scott
21. Ryan Lonergan (vc)
22. Declan Meredith
23. Hudson Creighton

Injury list 

Allan Alaalatoa, back
Lachlan Lonergan, knee
Tom Wright, knee
Rhys van Nek, hand
Dan Nelson, leg