Brumbies Confront Exhausting Travel Demands in Super Rugby Season Opener
The ACT Brumbies are bracing themselves for what players and coaches describe as one of the most "hectic starts to the season" in recent memory. The Super Rugby franchise faces a daunting travel schedule that will see them cover an astonishing 17,000 kilometres in just 25 days, beginning with a trial match this weekend.
A Gruelling Opening Month on the Road
In what promises to be a physically and mentally taxing opening month, the Brumbies commence their Super Rugby campaign with a trial against the Western Force in Perth. The travel burden intensifies rapidly, with the team scheduled to return to Perth less than two weeks later for their first regular season match, followed immediately by a flight to New Zealand for round two.
To put this extraordinary travel load into perspective, Canberra Raiders NRL supporters expressed significant concern last year when their team accumulated 20,000 kilometres of travel over an 11-week period. The Brumbies will nearly match that distance in under a month, and are projected to surpass it by their round-five encounter with the Fijian Drua.
Detailed Fixture Schedule and Player Challenges
The Brumbies face the Force at Scotch College in Perth on Friday night, before hosting the Waratahs at Marist College the following Thursday. Notably, the Waratahs will be without Miles Amatosero, who received suspension following a training incident that left teammate Angus Scott-Young with a fractured eye socket.
Stephen Larkham's squad then returns to Perth to begin the regular season against the Force on February 14, before embarking on a domestic flight to Christchurch just days later to confront the Crusaders in round two. This compressed schedule presents particular challenges for Wallabies players, who have had limited preparation time following their annual leave periods.
Player Perspectives on the Demanding Schedule
New recruit Tane Edmed, poised to make his Brumbies debut after departing the Waratahs, acknowledges the demanding nature of the schedule but expresses confidence in the team's readiness. "I'm pretty used to it now, this is now my sixth year in Super Rugby. You kind of get used to it, but it is a hectic start to the season, nothing we're not ready for," Edmed stated.
The 25-year-old playmaker emphasized the importance of support staff in managing the travel demands. "The coaches and performance staff do a lot of planning for you, taking into consideration the travel and other factors. You need to show up, do your job well, look after your body with recovery, and be smart about it."
Brumbies lock Nick Frost highlighted the physical challenges of the short pre-season for returning Wallabies. "Unfortunately it's not long enough, to be honest. That's the reality of pre-seasons, it's only three weeks and you're into it. In an ideal world, it would be good to have longer to get the body right because it is a long year," Frost explained.
Coaching Strategy and Team Management
Stephen Larkham faces complex selection decisions as he manages player workloads throughout the opening weeks. The Brumbies coach, who will announce his squad for the opening trial on Wednesday, handed six players their first Brumbies caps during last year's season opener in Fiji, with four making their Super Rugby debuts.
Larkham may implement wholesale changes to starting lineups during trial matches, as numerous players continue to build fitness following the abbreviated pre-season training block. This strategic management becomes crucial given the combination of extensive travel and limited preparation time for key personnel.
The Brumbies' challenging start represents a significant test of squad depth, player resilience, and logistical planning as they navigate one of the most demanding opening schedules in recent Super Rugby history.
