The 'double-edged sword' of the ACT Brumbies' Super W vision

There is a sense of loyalty to the players who have helped build the ACT Brumbies program to the point it is at today, but a shift within the program means competition for spots has never been stronger.

The Brumbies coach is closing in on naming a 31-player squad for the 2022 Super W season, with club officials in talks to lock in a handful of trial matches before the competition kicks off.

The squad has broken for a Christmas break after a revamped pre-season program "dramatically" increased the race for places in Brumbies jerseys.

The group will return to Brumbies headquarters in January before a pre-season camp in Jindabyne, and walk-up starters of years gone by are locked in a battle to retain their places in the XV.

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"It's a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand you want to be loyal to the people who have been there and done that, and have done all the hard yards," Hawke said from the Brumbies' annual women in business and sport luncheon on Thursday.

"But then on the other hand, you're now creating that competition for spots so everyone is driving a little bit harder, they're pushing each other a little bit more to try get those outcomes we're looking for.

"The depth we're creating down here, and the competition for spots, has increased dramatically. We've been able to recruit a couple more players from out of town that are coming down here for an opportunity. By having them, that has now brought on competition for our local players to step up as well."

Among the new faces at club headquarters are an ex-Wallaroo and a "genuine leader" in Ash Hewson, Test-capped Oneata Schwalger, and Presidents XV duo Jemima McCalman and Jasmin Huriwai.

They were a part of a wider squad at pre-season training designed to lift the standard of both the Super W program and the ACT Premier XVs competition.

"We've learnt a few lessons from this year and we've engaged a few more people," Hawke said.

"We've actually targeted a wider audience of player so we not only develop that top tier but we also develop the next tier. Then we're looking after not only the local comp, but the next tier coming through over the next couple of years.

"There's a couple of local young girls that are right on the cusp of getting their opportunity that just aren't quite there just yet. They'll be involved throughout the whole season, they've got a huge future in the game."

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