Brumbies Front Rowers Pack Down for Love: The Scrum That Led to a Proposal
When Andrew Rowland decided to propose to his partner Taylah, he knew Canberra Stadium was the perfect venue. What he didn't anticipate was recruiting three ACT Brumbies stars to help execute his romantic play.
The couple, who both played for Uni-Norths in Canberra's club rugby competition, were attending the Brumbies' fan day on Sunday when Rowland put his plan into action. After consulting with Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa, the stage was set for a proposal that would blend rugby tradition with personal significance.
The Scrum Formation That Changed Everything
"Billy Pollard came up with a brilliant idea of forming a little front-row scrum," Rowland explained. "We would have Taylah feed the ball in, and I would grab it at the back end with the ring."
Alaalatoa recruited teammates Billy Pollard and Rhys van Nek – both fellow Uni-Norths players and some of Taylah's favourite athletes – to participate in the special moment. As word spread through the fan day that a proposal was imminent, other players gathered around to witness the occasion.
The Brumbies front-rowers packed into formation and handed Taylah a rugby ball. Just as she prepared to feed the scrum, she noticed Rowland waiting on one knee behind the players, holding something considerably shinier than a standard Gilbert match ball.
Why Rugby Made the Perfect Backdrop
"I played rugby a lot when I was a kid, and I got Taylah playing a few years ago," Rowland shared. "She just fell in love with it and kept running with it. The Brumbies are such a presence in Canberra, so I thought, why not do it in a place where it would be a bit of an event for her as well?"
Rowland approached several players at the event to discuss his plan before connecting with Alaalatoa, who enthusiastically embraced the concept. "He just ran with it," Rowland said of the Brumbies captain's involvement.
Remarkably, Rowland noted that some players appeared more nervous about the proposal than he was himself. "It was incredible, the fact they were willing to do this with no hesitation," he reflected. "They put forward as many ideas as they did, making a big celebration out of it as well."
For Taylah, the experience exceeded all expectations. "It was something she thought wouldn't happen like this," Rowland said. "Perfect place, perfect time, perfect people, in a bigger way than she would have thought possible."
Brumbies Legend Returns to Mentor Next Generation
In other Brumbies news, 103-Test veteran Matt Giteau has returned to the club's headquarters, though not in the playing capacity some fans might hope for. The former Brumbies star, who helped secure a Super Rugby title for the club 22 years ago, is back to mentor ACT's playmakers and kickers.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham acknowledged Giteau's contemporary experience makes him particularly valuable. "There's a lot of experiences that he has gone through that are more relevant to this day and age," Larkham said. "He only retired last year and probably still wants to play a few more games before he fully retires."
Giteau has also joined the Canberra Raiders' pathways program, working alongside his brother Justin Giteau, who serves as an assistant to Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.
Canberra Junior Claims Australian Open Junior Title
While Carlos Alcaraz captured the Australian Open men's singles title, Canberra junior Tommy Camus was quietly making waves at Melbourne Park. The 14-year-old claimed the Asia Pacific elite 14 and under boys' singles championship, bouncing back from an early group stage loss to defeat top-seeded South Korean Siyun Kim in straight sets.
Camus, whose brother Charlie now plays college tennis in the United States, overcame an injury-plagued year that included four months sidelined with a broken foot. Tennis ACT chief executive Mark La Brooy praised the achievement as "inspiring for young players across the ACT."
Local Cricket Final Set for Manuka Oval
In Canberra's cricket scene, Ginninderra will face Queanbeyan in the Cricket ACT Twenty20 grand final at Manuka Oval on Sunday. Ginninderra's Brad Thomas has emerged as one of the competition's most feared hitters, having struck 11 sixes from his last 43 deliveries while remaining unbeaten in his past two innings.
Ginninderra veteran Scott Murn emphasized his team's focus on making impactful contributions. "The biggest word for us is 'impact'," Murn explained. "Whether it's with the ball, with the bat or in the field, it's about trying to make a contribution that puts the team further ahead in the game."
