Brumbies lock in Corey Toole on two-year deal as winger commits to Canberra

Corey Toole has committed to the Brumbies for a further two seasons, with the 26-year-old winger declaring Canberra the only place he wants to be at this stage of his career. The extension keeps one of Super Rugby Pacific’s most dangerous finishers in the ACT as the Brumbies prepare for a qualifying final against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Toole arrived in Canberra having already made a significant mark on the international stage. Before transitioning to the fifteen-a-side game, he was the standout performer as Australia claimed their first World Rugby Sevens Series title, finishing as the series’ leading try-scorer with 43 tries. Appearances at the Commonwealth Games and the Sevens Rugby World Cup followed before he returned to the Brumbies and established himself as one of the fastest men in Super Rugby.

He has since earned six Wallabies caps, scoring on his Test debut against the Springboks in South Africa, and has touched down 33 times in 55 appearances for the Brumbies — including five tries this season.

“I’m incredibly excited to extend my time with the Brumbies and Rugby Australia,” Toole said. “Canberra certainly felt like home since the day I arrived, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be developing my game right now. We have a driving ambition to deliver success for our loyal supporters in the ACT, and I’m fully focused on contributing to that while continuing to push for higher honours in the gold jersey.”

Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham welcomed the news ahead of a crunch week in the club’s season. The Brumbies finished sixth in the regular season — scraping into the playoffs after a strong start that included wins over four of the five New Zealand franchises — and now face top seed Hurricanes in a knockout tie.

“His pace and skillset make him a genuine gamebreaker for our side, while his character and personality around the group are a terrific example of what it means to be a Brumbies player,” Larkham said. “Retaining players who have come through our pathways system is a major priority for the club, and Corey is a great example of the opportunities available across the ACT and Southern NSW region.”

Rugby Australia’s Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, also welcomed the re-signing. “His speed makes him a rare talent, who progressed through the Australian Rugby pathways, tasted World Series success, and represented Australia at the Olympics before transitioning into Super Rugby,” Horne said. “Corey’s re-commitment is a great result for Australian Rugby.”