Dan McKellar has turned down a Wallabies offer with an eye on building an ACT Brumbies dynasty with the club looking to re-sign the coach until the end of 2023.
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The Canberra Times can reveal Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson will open discussions about locking McKellar and assistant Laurie Fisher in on long-term deals following the Super Rugby AU grand final.
It is a huge boost for the club which is preparing to farewell Tevita Kuridrani following the decider against the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.
Kuridrani is poised to join the Western Force next year, while the Brumbies are on the hunt for a new attack coach as Peter Hewat prepares to take an opportunity in Japan.
It comes as McKellar knocked back a chance to join Dave Rennie's Wallabies staff as forwards coach to instead focus on his club commitments.
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Thomson's bid to re-sign McKellar and Fisher through to the next World Cup gives the Brumbies time to build and also allows the pair to weigh up international commitments should they arise again at that stage.
It comes as the Brumbies strike a major sponsorship deal that looms as a huge boost for the club as it prepares to take a financial hit to cap off a volatile year.
Plus500 has extended its naming rights sponsorship of the Super Rugby AU powerhouse for 2021 which takes the partnership into a fifth year.
Brumbies chief executive Phil Thomson says the deal is a vote of confidence in the strength of the club as the playing squad sets its sights on a grand final against Queensland on Saturday.
Thomson admits the franchise is poised to take a significant financial hit this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has derailed competitions and limited crowd numbers.
The grand final crowd of 6000 will be the biggest Canberra Stadium has hosted since March, with crowd caps of 1500 and 3000 having flow-on effects to other areas of the business.
"Everything that goes with match day, your ticketing, membership, hospitality, merchandise, all of those things have been severely impacted," Thomson said.
"Impact from broadcast deal, the overall pot of money that gets distributed to all the Super Rugby clubs is a small one because of the change in competition and the competition being put on hold for a while, and the restructure of it.
"Our partners have been a very good support to us, they enjoy their relationship with the Brumbies but some of them had their own financial issues.
"We've had to restructure some of our partnerships to cover the financial hit right across the board for everyone. We're not the only industry in the world suffering.
"You've got to understand the situation of each of your partners and work with them, because we want to continue our relationship with our partners into 2021 and beyond."
Plus500 committed for another year soon after the Brumbies locked in O'Neills as an apparel provider for three more seasons in a timely boost in an unforgiving financial landscape.
Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa says the chance to win the Australian crown will be a huge boost to those who have stuck by the club this year - and it starts with a front-row unit looking to set the tone.
"Physicality is going to be key. In terms of a forward's perspective, we're going to need to make sure we're on, especially around our set piece. They've been a threat all year around set piece," Alaalatoa said.
"In terms of the front-row, it is to make sure we do everything we can, firstly, to make sure we dominate the set piece. In the back of your mind, you're always trying to paint a good picture for the referee.
"You've got to go out there and want to dominate the set piece, and not think about painting a good picture for the ref. That's going to come. Our mentality there is just to make sure we do our job up front."
SUPER RUGBY AU GRAND FINAL
Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium, 7.15pm.
Brumbies squad: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Folau Fainga'a, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Murray Douglas, 5. Cadeyrn Neville, 6. Lachlan McCaffrey, 7. Will Miller, 8. Pete Samu, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Tom Wright, 12. Irae Simone, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Andy Muirhead, 15. Tom Banks. Replacements: 16. Connal McInerney, 17. James Slipper, 18. Tom Ross, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Rob Valetini, 21. Nic White, 22. Bayley Kuenzle, 23. Solomone Kata.
Reds squad: 1. JP Smith, 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Angus Blyth, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Liam Wright (c), 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Tate McDermott, 10. James O'Connor, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Hunter Paisami, 14. Jordan Petaia, 15. Jock Campbell. Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. Harry Hoopert, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20. Angus Scott-Young, 21. Moses Sorovi, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Jack Hardy.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports journalist for The Canberra Times.
