Brumbies to take on Waratahs in Wagga Wagga

The Brumbies have announced that they will play a Super Rugby pre-season trial
match against the Waratahs on 6 February 2016 in Wagga Wagga.

Penciled in as one of just two official trial matches the Brumbies will play
in the lead-up to the 2016 Super Rugby season, Stephen Larkham’s side
will face the Waratahs at the Wagga Equex Centre just three weeks out from their
season opener.

The match follows the successful Super Rugby trial held in Wagga Wagga in January
between the Brumbies and eventual 2015 Super Rugby champions the Highlanders.
The Highlanders won that match 24-19.

Falling well within the club’s catchment area, which extends between the
Victorian boarder in the south and Goulburn in the north, Wagga forms one of
the most important regions for the Brumbies with 1000s of players annually
contesting Southern Inland’s competitions.

Chief Executive Michael Jones said this year’s match was a great success.

“Wagga is part of our catchment and this is a home game for the Brumbies
in every sense,” Jones said.

“One of the reasons we chose to play both the Waratahs in 2016 and the
Highlanders earlier this year, was because the facilities in Wagga are going
to be amongst the best regional Australia has to offer.

“The Brumbies v Waratahs match is always one of the most captivating for
Australian Rugby audiences, and generates international interest.

Some of the Brumbies biggest names featured in the trial against the Highlanders
and the big names are expected to appear again on February 6 against the Waratahs.

“Between these two squads are some of the biggest names in World Rugby,”
Jones said.

“With David Pocock, Henry Speight, and Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore
with the Brumbies taking on the likes of Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Michael
Hooper, this game will give Wagga fans an opportunity to watch a world-class
game of rugby in their own backyard.

“Wagga has such a rich history of sporting success that the trial match we
are announcing today will certainly generate significant interest, not only
locally but from throughout the rest of Australia.”

Alongside areas like Queanbeyan and Albury, Wagga is perhaps Australia’s
most prolific sporting region having produced countless Australian representatives
in all sports, both team and individual. Wallaby Nathan Sharpe was raised in
Wagga, as were former Brumbies Nick Henderson and John Langford.

Australian Super Rugby Rookie of the Year and Brumbies lock Rory Arnold was
also born in Wagga.