Brumbies Academy centre Ed Stubbs has been promoted to the Brumbies squad for 2011 after signing on for two years.
Stubbs received his first taste of Super 14 rugby this year when he started off the bench against the Cheetahs. He went on to earn further caps against the Reds and Highlanders.
After starting the year in the Brumbies' development program, the 21-year-old's reputation was enhanced after becoming a key representative for the Australian Sevens side during the season, including their IRB tournament win in London and second-place finish in Edinburgh.
These on-field achievements followed in the wake of Stubbs' stellar season for the Tuggeranong Vikings in 2009, where he played an integral role in their Tooheys New John I Dent Cup premiership.
Stubbs says he's looking forward to following in the footsteps of his cousin, Peter Playford, in linking with the Brumbies.
"This is very exciting," he said. "I was very happy to be part of the Academy this year but to make the transition into the main squad during the season and have the chance to stay there for a decent period of time was a great experience.
"I took a lot out of this year in terms of learning from the senior guys and players who've been part of the squad for a few years. Things like understanding attention to detail during skills work and training standards gave me an idea of where I want to get to and made me realise that the Brumbies is where I need to be to be developing my football.
"I've still got some work to get myself physically where I want to be. While the Sevens was a fantastic experience for me, you always drop a few kilos during the year, so my focus now is getting myself into a good condition to get a decent club season under my belt [with the Vikings], hopefully be a part of the Sevens team for the Commonwealth Games and work towards being ready to get stuck into next year's pre-season.
"Playing Sevens has been great in terms of preparing me for the professionalism of playing at this level and playing in front of big crowds, but Super 14 is another step up again. It was unbelievable to get a taste of Super 14 this year and now I want to be doing what I have to to be a part of that Brumbies squad week in, week out."
Head Coach Andy Friend says Stubbs is an excellent young prospect for the ACT side.
"This is a great opportunity for Ed, who showed this year that he definitely has a future playing at this level," he said.
"He's a player who's very committed to the development of his rugby and he's certainly reaped the rewards of that this season.
"To have a Tier Two player playing Super 14 rugby is virtually unheard of, but Ed has been up to every challenge he's been presented with this season and this contract the next step.
"He showed in his game time at Super 14 and with the Aussie Sevens that he has a very good skills base, he likes the physicality of the game and he enjoys running the football. He wasn't overawed by his opportunities this season which stood him in good stead for making the step up to the main squad on a full-time basis.
"Ed follows in the footsteps of guys like Jerry Yanuyanutawa and Pat McCabe, who graduated from the Brumbies Academy last year and it's pleasing to see that our development program is working so efficiently under Darren Coleman and that we are providing this pathway for young players."
Ed Stubbs
Position: Centre
Physical: 1.84m, 97kg
Age: 02.02.1989, Sydney
Super 14 Caps: 3
Super 14 Points: 0
Super 14 Debut: 2010 v Cheetahs, Canberra
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