Brumbies set to launch hall of fame for legends

The ACT Rugby Union board will meet this week to discuss the proposal, which was initially slated to be announced at a reunion function on the weekend.

Rugby's coronavirus shutdown cancelled the gathering of the inaugural Brumbies, who were set to return to the capital to attend several functions to reminisce about the journey which began in 1996.

The reunion will be rescheduled for either later this year or next pending availability and social distancing restrictions, with the hall of fame set to be a part of the celebrations.

For now the Brumbies are set to turn to fans for their input, with a best XV in history to be decided by votes on social media from Monday. The voting will be broken down into positions.

The modern-day Brumbies are expected to return to the club's headquarters at the University of Canberra on Monday for their first official day of training in two months.

But part of coach Dan McKellar's vision has been reconnecting with the past and plans for the hall of fame are set to be given approval when directors meet on Wednesday.

Categories will be split to recognise individual achievements. A Brumbies "legend" is recognition local, national or international success and impact on the game. Hall of fame inductees are those who had a major impact on the Brumbies.

"It's to recognise players, coaches and other contributors to the Brumbies family and community," said chief executive Phil Thomson.

"The thinking behind it is to celebrate 25 years of the Brumbies and recognise those contributors to the club over that time. It's a recognised brand in world sport.

"There's been a proud history in our existence and for ACT rugby before the Brumbies started. This is looking at what the Brumbies have done since they started in 1996.

"We'd certainly like to acknowledge the 1996 team this year, but if we can't do it this year because of coronavirus we'll certainly look at making sure we can do it in 2021."

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The Brumbies are the most successful franchise in Australian rugby, winning titles in 2001 and 2004, and have produced some of the greatest players in Wallabies history.

But they haven't won a title since the glory years of the early 2000s, going through several rebuilding periods over the past 16 years but never being able to recapture the golden touch.

McKellar had his team primed to end the drought this year, winning five of the first six games before the season was cancelled after they thrashed the NSW Waratahs in March.

It was the best start to a single season since their last championship and their attacking prowess - scoring 31 tries in six matches - conjured memories of better days.

The club received an exemption to start training again in groups of 10, with Monday set aside as an information session for the players to digest more than 30 pages of regulations and rules. Play could restart in July.

Training will be ramped up over the coming weeks, with a return to play likely at the start of July.

Brumbies greats liked what they saw before the season was stopped and they hope the players can start from where they finished if a domestic competition is launched.

"The Brumbies do seem to have their act together this year," said inaugural coach Rod Macqueen.

McKellar has invited past Brumbies back into the team environment this year, giving them a chance to speak to players about the club's history and why teams of the past were successful.

"I felt so welcome when I came back in. It didn't matter if it was James Slipper or one of the younger members, everyone was part of it and they wanted to know what makes a good team," said George Gregan.

Foundation captain Brett Robinson presented the jerseys to players in Argentina last year before a game against the Jaguares.

"Spending some time with them and sitting on the bus ... I got to see that Brumbies attitude again," Robinson said. "That strong sense of discipline. It felt like the Brumbies were heading in the right direction.

"Dan has a great sense of selflessness and I can see that flowing through. That's going to resonate with the community ... and they were playing attractive rugby that people could be proud of."