Study shows Brumbies and Raiders jump in fan stakes

The latest release of a BenchMark emotional connection score by True North Research shows the Brumbies are ranked second in rugby union and the Raiders have moved to fourth in rugby league.

The Matildas have the strongest emotional connection of any national team, while the GWS Giants are sixth in the AFL.

The Raiders rode a lime green wave to their first grand final in 25 years, capturing the NRL as the underdog despite their heartbreaking loss to the Sydney Roosters.

The Brumbies returned to the finals and are confident they are ready to rebuild support after struggling to attract fans to Canberra Stadium this year.

Coach Dan McKellar has placed a countdown clock in the Brumbies team room to remind players they have just 65 days remaining before their season-opener against the Queensland Reds.

The club announced on Tuesday it will play a trial game against the Melbourne Rebels in Albury on January 23, with both teams to roll out their entire squads across two games.

The Super Rugby regular season will start on January 31, giving McKellar and his players minimal time to prepare for the earliest start in the competition's history.

"This is the first time we've down the countdown. I think Dan's done it for the mental approach," said hooker Connal McInerney.

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"Because every time you're in there, you look at it and think I better make everything count because there's not long.

"I've been in here for a couple years and I've gone from one of the younger guys to being one of the older ones. I'm pretty excited, it's going to come around quickly but a shorter pre-season is always a better one."

The Brumbies start their season with three home games in what is traditionally the hottest period of the year.

They also have two day-time fixtures at home and night-time kick-offs have been moved forward by 30 minutes, giving the Brumbies hope fans will return to the stands after averaging just 8798 people per match.

They know those numbers can be turned around because they've watched Raiders support surge, the club recording its highest average home crowd since 1994 with 16,238 fans attending each game, including finals.

Meanwhile, former Brumbies Ben Hyne and Jordan Jackson-Hope will get a chance to relaunch their Super Rugby careers after being named in the Japan Sunwolves squad on Tuesday.

Hyne suffered a heartbreaking end to his time in Canberra, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee on the last day of pre-season training before Christmas last year. He missed the entire Super Rugby, John I Dent Cup and National Rugby Championship seasons, but will get an opportunity to step back on to the top level with the Sunwolves.

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

National teams: 1. Matildas, 2. Women's sevens, 3. Socceroos, 4. Wallaroos, 5. Men's T20, 6. Wallabies.

NRL: 1. Storm, 2. Rabbitohs, 3. Cowboys, 4. Raiders, 5. Warriors, 6. Tigers.

Super Rugby: 1. Reds, 2. Brumbies, 3. Force, 4. Rebels, 5. Waratahs