ACT Brumbies bolster the John I Dent Cup

Wright and hooker Folau Fainga'a will bolster the Wests Lions in their club rugby clash with the winless Canberra Royals on Saturday afternoon.

They enter a squad already boasting Luke Reimer, Lachie Albert and Harry Lloyd, who has signed a one-year deal with the Western Force for the 2022 season.

Muirhead was in camp with the Wallabies during the French series and will be joined in the Royals side by Rory Scott and Archer Holz, with 16 members of the Brumbies' 2021 squad set to play club football this weekend.

Lachie and Ryan Lonergan will join the Tuggeranong Vikings for their clash with the Uni-Norths Owls.

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Both have been in camp with the Wallabies, with the former keen to build on his two appearances in a thrilling series win over France.

The Queanbeyan Whites will be bolstered by the return of prop Fred Kaihea, who has been sidelined with a knee injury after making his Super Rugby debut earlier this year.

Kaihea filters into a Whites side boasting outside backs Reece Tapine and Junior Tupou against the Gungahlin Eagles, who will rely on Issak Fines-Leleiwasa for spark at scrumhalf.

Brumbies and Vikings lock Tom Hooper says the arrival of the Lonergan brothers will be a massive boost for Nick Scrivener's side.

"One thing we pride ourselves on at Vikings is our depth, and to have guys come back and just add to that abundance of depth is just awesome, especially with the quality of players that are coming back," Hooper said.

"Especially the Lonergan boys, they're very much Vikings through and through. Their dad loves the rugby, he always comes down, so it's good to have them back in red and white.

"We don't know where they're going to slot in but wherever that is, whether it's bench or fullback, Lonners is a bit of a jack of all trades so he could slot in anywhere.

"Similar with Noss, he could slot in anywhere, whether that be flanker or hooker. I don't know what Scriv's plans with them are, but whatever they are, I'm sure they'll do the job.

"It's massive for players to develop.

"To have guys with their presence on the field, whether that be them making the big hits and making the big plays, or them just talking and encouraging them at training, getting in their ear and imparting a bit of wisdom onto them, it's huge for younger players."

Pete Samu [Gungahlin], Billy Pollard [Uni-Norths], Bayley Kuenzle [Royals] and Nick Frost [Queanbeyan] are all unavailable for club duties this weekend.

Pollard's absence leaves the third-placed Owls without a Brumbies player as they chase a spot in the top two during the final month of the regular season.

"They've got heaps to play for and they've always been good at home," Hooper said.

"Especially in the wet, they've got an outstanding forward pack, good in the maul, good in the scrum, it'll be a good battle this weekend.

"It's always a very tough competition here, obviously we've got six teams and the stars, whether that be Brumbies stars or just the John I Dent Cup stars like Pedro Rolando and Matt Hawke, guys like that who have been around for ages.

"When you get a few Brumbies stars back, it definitely adds to the excitement. I think it's always tough. It doesn't really change how close the margins will be or anything. There's a bit more to play for now."

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