The ACT Brumbies are banking on youth to help ease the pain of star departures, offering Australian under-20s hooker Lachlan Lonergan a chance to launch his career.
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Lonergan has signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a two-year deal to join older brother Ryan on the Super Rugby roster.
It means Lachlan Lonergan will have the task of filling the boots of Australian Super Rugby's oldest player in history after being recruited to replace the retired Josh Mann-Rea.
Lonergan was one of the junior Wallabies stars at the under-20s World Cup earlier this year and has been earmarked as a future Test player.
But his first job will be trying to win a Brumbies start, teaming up with incumbent Wallabies hooker Folau Faingaa and Connal McInerney to former a three-way rake rotation.
The Brumbies are facing a massive changing of the guard after a group of established stars led the team to the finals this year.
Mann-Rea, Christian Lealiifano, David Pocock, Henry Speight, Sam Carter and Rory Arnold have all the club, leaving the Brumbies without five of their best players.
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Chance Peni, Jordan Jackson-Hope and Wharenui Hawera have also left Canberra, while Lausii Taliauli is playing in New Zealand's provincial competition and is yet to be offered a new Brumbies deal.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is putting his faith in a group of untested players to rise to the challenge next year as the club chases back to back finals spots.
Lonergan will be joined by junior Wallabies teammates Noah Lolesio and Nick Frost, while Bayley Kuenzle and schoolboy Reesjan Pasitoa are expected to compete for the chief playmaker job.
The Brumbies are hopeful of finding a big, experienced lock to add to their forward pack and could add another prop to their rotation.
But McKellar will need to settle on a new captain, flyhalf, openside flanker, winger and second-row pairing to try to end their 16-year title drought.
Lonergan, who scored two tries for the Tuggeranong Vikings last weekend, said he was looking forward to taking the first steps of his career.
"I'm really excited about signing a contract with the Brumbies and getting an opportunity to further my career at my home town club," Lonergan said.
"The Brumbies have always been an important part of my life and, having progressed through the academy with them, it's a dream come true to wear the jersey.
"I know I still have lots to learn and am looking forward to continuing to work hard with Dan and the coaching staff to further my development and grow as a player."
The two Lonergan brothers will team up for Tuggeranong's bid to win another John I Dent Cup title when the Canberra premier division finals start this weekend.
The Vikings will play against Royals in the major semi-final, while the Uni-Norths Owls will play the Gungahlin eagles in a knockout minor semi-final.
The Owls will be hoping for a double Brumbies boost, with David Pocock and Tom Banks both in line to get crucial game time. Pocock is nearing a return from a calf injury and Banks will be hoping to force his way back into Wallabies gold.