Rugby is starting so early in 2020 it is verging on summer sport status but Brumbies coach Dan McKellar says his team has to embrace the opportunity.
The first game of Super Rugby on January 31 kick-off comes some 24 days earlier than round one in 2019, and it is expected that mid-January trials and Super Rugby games will be played in some brutal summer conditions.
But on the flipside, McKellar believes the advantage rugby already enjoys of being the first 'winter' code back in action has now been boosted by several more weeks of clear air.
The Brumbies, especially, find themselves with the bonus of their major competition - the NRL’s Raiders - being still six weeks away from their first match when they kick off.
After round one’s clash with the Reds, the Brumbies host the Rebels and Highlanders in their first three 2020 matches before any NRL whistle blows.
The Brumbies have struggled to attract big crowds in recent years, but with three home games to kick off the year and no major sporting competition to speak of, McKellar said it would be a chance for them to make their mark on 2020.
“I think it's a great opportunity for the game, AFL, rugby league, they're still in their preseason,” he said.
“For all the rugby lovers I think it's a huge opportunity.
“There's always going to be common sense around playing at that time of year if we do strike a couple of hot days or evenings then no doubt drink breaks and player welfare will be at the forefront of the officials' minds.
“It's nice and hot down in Canberra now which is a nice change from the last few months so we need to be prepared and comfortable with training and playing in those sorts of conditions.”
The Brumbies will run out in that round one clash looking far different to the team that has been running around in the past five years with their biggest names moving on after the Rugby World Cup.
McKellar is confident the leaders that departed the club last season had left a legacy that could be carried on into 2020.
“There's some players that have moved on, which happens every year but I think you've got 28 players that are returning from 2019 so there's still a lot of them there and a lot of them that are experienced,” he said.
“There’s a lot of them that have been a big part of our weekly 23 so it's a great opportunity for young group of leaders - your Sios, your Alaalatoas, McCaffrey, Cusack, Powell, Banks, these sorts of guys, Kuridrani, there's a lot of quality footballers in and amongst them there.
“The legacy that the 2019 group leaves is...it's now our responsibility to take that to another level again.
“We're really proud of that aspect of our club in 2019 but we understand we need to continue to grow that area.”
McKellar said he had been buoyed by the way that players like Tom Banks have been speaking about leadership, keen to fill the void left by some of the team’s established leaders.
“I think that's a development in someone like Banksy's game, in Joe Powell's game, and that doesn't mean you change as a person,” he said.
“I'm certainly not going to want guys that are normally quieter and don't say a lot (not to be themselves).
“I want our leaders to lead through their actions, make sure that they've got their own game on-field and off-field in order and then when things need to be said, make sure you know you've got that voice to put your ideas forward.
“I think Banksy and others, it's now their turn to step up and show some leadership particularly in and around our backline.”
The Brumbies play the Rebels in their only preseason matches on Thursday January 23 in Albury. More information here.
