White building depth in Canberra

Brumbies coach Jake White has set up a training squad for players on the fringes of selection in Canberra to increase the depth available to him.

The former Springbok coach is hoping to make the transition from amateur to professional rugby easier, by providing an environment in which talented local players can familiarise themselves with the Brumbies' set-up and standards.

With the ARU having centralised their academy system last year, Australian Super Rugby franchises do not have access to those not in their official 35-man squad, but White has countered that by setting up the new squad which will train together once a week.

The squad will have their own coach and access to training and strength and conditioning programs as White looks to make the transition for new players in the Brumbies squad as easy as possible.

with no competitive structure between club level and Super Rugby, White is hopeful that the new squad will assist the development of promising players.

"We want to upskill them so they can improve for their club and then they can give themselves a fair chance of making it to Super Rugby, White told the Canberra Times.

"At the end of the day not everyone is going to make it as a professional, but it gives them a boost that the Brumbies are monitoring them.

"It's about bridging the gap – club's can use it to attract players to Canberra because having a pathway is the most important thing for a young player," he explained.

The Reds have a similiar set-up with a 'Reds College' which replaced their academy when the ARU adapted their system.