ACT Brumbies bubble bursts open John I Dent Cup

But stringent coronavirus protocols has prevented Super Rugby AU players turning out for their club teams this season.

For the Brumbies, it means fringe players within the club's bubble cannot filter down to the John I Dent Cup for minutes. Nor can players use the competition to gain match fitness on the comeback from injury.

Gungahlin coach Marco Caputo believes this has contributed to a much more even competition, with only seven points separating the top three teams.

The Tuggeranong Vikings, who have won six of the past nine premierships, boast the highest number of Brumbies players in their ranks. They sit second in the John I Dent Cup standings after four rounds, while reigning premiers Canberra Royals are currently fourth.

"It's a lot tighter and more competitive than it has been over the past decade, I'd say," Caputo said.

"I think the results have proven that - any team being able to beat another on any given day, you could say that's put down to a lack of Brumbies.

"We look at the allocation of Brumbies going to each club and it definitely advantages some more than others. Without that at the moment, there's been a good balance of the playing ability across all clubs."

Wests coach Adam Butt has a different take on why the competition has opened up this year, saying it's largely due to the loss of senior players who did not return following the coronavirus outbreak.

"I'm not sure if it's having that much of an impact to be honest, I think COVID has had more of an impact than the Brumbies being in the bubble," Butt said.

"Every team has had top quality players who for one reason or another aren't able to play this season, whether it's work or family reasons and COVID has brought that to the forefront.

"It's probably taken a bit of depth out of the competition, especially in those top clubs.

"But I'm not really sure how many Brumbies players would have been in the local competition anyway because they seem to be running a fairly heavy rotational system. Tuggeranong may have had a few, and maybe Royals.

"I would have loved to have our Brumbies boys this weekend, that would have been great but clearly that's not going to happen. I don't know if we'll see them at all this year, maybe at the finals but I wouldn't hold my breath."

The loss of fringe Brumbies and senior players has paved the way for young talent to step up in Canberra's premier rugby competition.

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Gungahlin has five Colts-aged players in their first-grade squad, an opportunity Caputo said may not have arisen if the Brumbies were still available.

"I'm really seeing the benefit of younger players coming through the pathway and having an opportunity to play in the top squad," he said.

Likewise, Butt has been impressed with how they've taken on leadership roles and new opportunities, saying it'll benefit the Brumbies down the track.

"It's given those young players and fringe players a reason to put their hand up and actually show they can control the game. That's a greater benefit for them and the clubs moving forward," Butt said.

"It's also benefited the Brumbies recruitment, they can see what these players are like in a leadership role which they probably wouldn't have seen them in with the senior players around the competition.

"If you look over the teams this year, they are so young. It's weird and something I haven't seen before... it's exciting to see what these young kids have got."