Brumbies thrashed by record margin, veteran star set to play on

Updated June 5, 2026 — 7:49pm,first published June 3, 2026 — 3:47pm

The Brumbies’ bizarre season came to a close in brutal fashion on Friday night, with the Hurricanes handing the ACT side the biggest-ever defeat in the finals of Super Rugby.

But the 66-12 thrashing did have a semblance of a silver lining, with the match unlikely to have been a sad farewell for veteran James Slipper, who is in talks to play on next year for the Brumbies, and possibly the Wallabies, too.

Based on a stronger record on the road than at home this year, the ACT side approached their clash with the in-form Canes in Wellington with optimism, packing their bags with enough clothes for a three-week stay in New Zealand.

The confidence was misplaced. The rampant Hurricanes showed why they’re strong favourites to win the competition by thrashing the Brumbies in a one-sided game, and even in slippery conditions, ran in nine tries.

It was the highest score ever posted in the Super Rugby finals, and winning margin, too; topping the Bulls’ 61-17 win over the Chiefs in the 2009 final.

The humbling result continued Australia’s winless run in the Super Rugby playoffs in New Zealand, which is now 22-0.

The defeat brought down the curtain on a bizarre Brumbies season of highs and lows, which saw Stephen Larkham’s side beat four of five Kiwi sides – including the first win in Christchurch since in 26 years – but then also lose to the bottom two sides, Fijian Drua (twice) and Moana Pasifika.

Most uncharacteristically, the Brumbies lost to both those sides in Canberra, where they had an overall home record of three wins and four losses. Normally unbeatable at home, it was the Brumbies’ worst win percentage at GIO Stadium in a decade.

A stronger win rate on the road helped the Brumbies squeak into the finals, but it came in the shape of a clash with the white-hot Canes, who only confirmed their raging favouritism to win the competition on Friday night.

On paper, the game was Slipper’s last in a 17-year career in Australian rugby, given he is off contract and retired from Test rugby last year. Slipper holds the record for most Wallabies caps (151), and most Super Rugby games (212).

But it appears likely Slipper won’t be throwing out his boots just yet, with negotiations well advanced about the 36-year-old running around for the Brumbies for another season in 2027. Slipper said this week he was hopeful of getting a new deal done.

“I’d like to go around again. I’m confident something will get done, so I’m not too stressed,” Slipper told The Canberra Times.

A contract extension at the B