Brumbies Name Wallabies Stars To Play Brisbane Global Tens

Top Wallabies players have been confirmed for the Brisbane Global Tens with the naming of the Brumbies squad revealing eight Australian test players in the mix.

Big ball runners Tevita Kuridrani and Henry Speight are among the Wallabies contingent for the Canberra-based Super Rugby franchise named to play in the inaugural competition.

The Brumbies squad naming came after controversy struck NZ Rugby with revelations All Blacks players may not be eligible to play in the Duco Events tournament owing to a mandatory rest period.

The rest period was a 12-week-standown for players following their final game of the season, as stipulated in the NZ Rugby players' collective agreement.

It was controversial for NZ Rugby as this affected some of the players heavily involved in Duco promotion of the event - particularly marquee All Blacks Israel Dagg, Ben Smith and Jerome Kaino.

Duco has asserted that All Blacks players will be at the Tens, and the Australian Rugby Union was understood to have confirmed the eligibility of its Wallabies players.

Clarification has been sought from New Zealand Rugby, who have yet to respond.

The Brumbies were the first Australian side to name their Tens squad, and along with Kuridrani and Speight, the team sported nine internationals including Argentina halfback Tomas Cubelli.

Their squad included two wildcards, with coach Stephen Larkham and Andrew Walker set to feature at the ages of 42 and 43 respectively.

"We are looking forward to the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens competition and the challenge that it presents us," Larkham said.

"We only have two trial matches ahead of the Tens competition so the tournament will provide some valuable playing time for the squad ahead of the Super Rugby season."

The Brumbies will play the Highlanders, Toulon and South Africa's Blue Bulls in the pool stages.

Brumbies Tens squad (Wallabies bolded): Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Tomás Cubelli, Tom Banks, Scott Sio, Nic Jooste, Joe Powell, Andrew Smith, Lausii Taliauli, Aidan Toua, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Chris Alcock, Jarrad Butler, Tom Staniforth, Blake Enever, Saia Fainga'a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Ben Hyne, Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Nic Mayhew, Jordan Smiler, Stephen Larkham (wildcard), Andrew Walker (wildcard).

(Stuff)