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'Bit unfair': Bulls boss Johan Ackermann's vow before All Blacks clash
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The Kiwi who found a home in Canberra: Ollie Sapsford and the Brumbies way
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On May 3, 2014, Ollie Sapsford was “sinking a few beers” with mates while cheering for the Crusaders in their 40-20 victory over the Brumbies at AMI Stadium in Christchurch. Watching international players like Israel Dagg, Ryan Crotty, and Tevita Kuridrani shine that night sparked a pivotal moment for the then 18-year-old outside back.
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Having left the family farm and Ashburton College at 16 to pursue a building apprenticeship and “ride his motorbike,” Sapsford decided to commit to becoming a professional rugby player.
Fast forward to 2025, and Sapsford’s Brumbies are just one win away from facing the Crusaders in a Super Rugby Pacific final in Christchurch.
“It’s funny how things work, isn’t it?” Sapsford admitted to RugbyPass.
“The Brumbies appeal to me because it’s a place where players go wanting to have a shot. Canberra might not be as appealing as Brisbane or Sydney, but I like it because it’s a small, tidy, and clean place to live.
“Those who come here have an inner desire to work hard that can’t be replicated anywhere else. There are fewer distractions, and we have a very tight-knit community feel.”
“It’s been amazing working with Stephen Larkham. He’s a great coach: cool, calm, and collected. He hardly raises his voice and is very detailed, seeing things as a player would because he was a top player himself.”
Sapsford was contracted by the Brumbies at the end of 2021. From 2022 to 2025, he has played 53 games, scored five tries, and achieved 37 wins. In 2024, he was even selected for Australia A for their Northern Hemisphere tour.
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His breakthrough in first-class rugby came way back in 2016 when he played five games for Mid Canterbury in the Heartland Championship. He then moved to Wellington in pursuit of greater opportunities and stood out at the club level for the Wellington Axemen, although he couldn’t break into the Lions.
In 2019, he was offered a chance with Hawke’s Bay, where he thrived. He’s played 51 games, achieving 35 wins and scoring 15 tries. From 2020 to 2022, he was part of a Hawke’s Bay team that defended the Ranfurly Shield 14 times and, again in 2023 and 2024, helped repel four challenges. In 2020, Hawke’s Bay won the championship, and in 2024, they narrowly lost the Premiership final to Taranaki.
The Brumbies have lost their last six Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals, and the Chiefs will be looking to extend that record tonight in Hamilton. Since their first meeting in 1996, the teams have each recorded 16 wins, but the Chiefs have won the last four encounters.
The Chiefs finished at the top of the table in the regular season but will be smarting after their 20-19 loss to the Blues in the first round of the playoffs. The Brumbies, on the other hand, clinically dispatched a dangerous Hurricanes side in Canberra, winning 35-28. Despite that performance, the Brumbies are listed at $4.80 at the TAB to win.
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“It’s a cliché, but we’re focused on our own game,” Sapsford said. “The last time we played the Chiefs was a close matchup. We made a few too many mistakes, and they capitalised on them to win.
“We were perfect, five from five, in our 22 entries against the Hurricanes. We were disappointed with our execution against the Crusaders the week before, but we made a few adjustments and were thrilled with how things turned out.”
The biggest event in Australian rugby this year is the British and Irish Lions tour. Sapsford is hopeful that the Wallabies will perform strongly.
“It’s going to be an exciting tour. The Wallabies will take a lot of confidence from their Northern tour last year, and there have been some great performers in Super Rugby. The Lions will be no pushovers; they have a big pack and some classy backs,” Sapsford said.
