Brumbies and university of Canberra sign 30-year alliance agreement

But the five-year ordeal has failed to dampen the university's desire to have the best sporting links in Australia, vice-chancellor Deep Saini revealing UC's hopes of linking with Canberra's bid for Big Bash cricket team.

The Brumbies and the university took a major step forward in their long-term relationship on Friday, burying the ugly legal stoush of 2016 to finalise their joint-venture at Bruce.

The terms of the alliance agreement was one of the major contributors to a falling out between the organisations under different leadership two years ago.

Some of the details related to the flow of sponsorship dollars, the cost of maintaining a field for training, parking, electricity and the future of the organisations after the university, Brumbies and ACT government built a $15 million base for the Super Rugby club.

The terms have since been adjusted for both parties, who will co-exist on campus and share resources until at least 2043.

"It's been a very rich relationship for us ... this is just a concrete step," Saini said.

"I wouldn't be signing [the agreement] if I wasn't optimistic [about the Brumbies future]. I've been optimistic from day one when I arrived in this country and the university two years ago.

"There was a lot of noise about the relationship between the Brumbies and UC at that point. As I've been saying consistently, it wasn't an issue between the Brumbies and University of Canberra.

"There was an issue between the Brumbies and one of their employees. Brumbies and UC have a good relationship.

"This is a 30-year relationship. There are complexities, we want to move forward on terms that are sustainable and keep both parties happy.

"There have been a number of tweaks [to the agreement], but nothing I would call a sea change."

Brumbies chief executive Michael Thomson added: "One of the great things about the whole process has been the collaboration between both organisations.

"There's certainly a strong common will to make this a success for both of us. That's why it's taken a bit of time."

The university owns the WNBL licence for the Canberra Capitals, runs women's rugby sevens team, has links to the Canberra United W-League team and has invested in state of the art tools, including an altitude chamber for athletes and a concussion test tool.

But Saini is also keen to get behind Canberra's push for a Big Bash team, and has spoken to the consortium driving the campaign for inclusion in the Twenty20 competition in the coming years.

"We remain optimistic the Brumbies will be one of the pillars of our university's strategy to be and remain as a top sport university in the country," Saini said.

"Sport is in the DNA of this university. We will certainly always be open to other relationships. We have interest in getting involved in cricket, for example, if the Big Bash was to ever come to this city.

"Any other opportunity ... aside from that, sports education and research is one of our key activities.

"We've had conversations [with the Big Bash team] and I am, and the university is, very supportive of the bid. I think it's time we had a Big Bash team in Canberra."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 16

Sunday: ACT Brumbies v Japan Sunwolves at Canberra Stadium, 4.05pm. Tickets available from Ticketek. Fans will be allowed on to the field after the game.

* The Brumbies will donate $15,000 to charities if they reach their crowd target of 15,000. The money will be divided evenly between Lifeline Canberra, OzHarvest and Give me five for kids.

Brumbies: 15. Tom Banks, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Kyle Godwin, 11. Andy Muirhead, 10. Wharenui Hawera, 9. Joe Powell, 8. Isi Naisarani, 7. David Pocock, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Connal McInerney, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Robbie Abel/Les Leuluaialii-Makin, 17. Nic Mayhew, 18. Ben Alexander, 19. Richie Arnold, 20. Tom Cusack, 21. Matt Lucas, 22. Wharenui Hawera, 23. Andrew Smith.