2026 Rugby Season Preview
How do you top the most successful season in Bull Sharks rugby?
Welcome to our season preview, with all the ins and outs and what to look out for in the year ahead.
It all kicks off this Saturday, with the Brailsford-Brown Cup when Bond take on the University of Queensland in the ultimate battle of the universities.
Premier Men
It was a fairytale premiership for the men in the 2025 grand final against Brothers.
But we’re back to square one this year and every team is chasing the Bull Sharks. The hunters have become the hunted.
The men have put together a strong great pre-season, including wins in trial matches against Sunnybank and the Hunter Wildfires.
Last week the squad travelled to Sydney for the Australian Rugby Club Championships where they conceded to Warringah 34-19. It was a disappointing result but one that provided plenty of learnings to take into the season opener.
As reigning premiers, the Bull Sharks will enter 2026 as a marked side – and head Coach, Mick Heenan knows exactly what that brings.
“Last year we took some people by surprise and maybe when we got to finals people thought we were definitely the fourth team,” Heenan said.
“We didn't think that at the time, so maybe we caught a few teams off guard.
“You don’t get any points for being premiers. You have to earn it all over again. We’ve just got to be prepared that everyone’s coming after us and we’ve got to be ready to attack them.”
Pre-season
“We’ve had a pretty smooth pre-season, a lot of the boys have worked really hard, and we haven’t had too much bad weather, so training hasn’t been disrupted too much,” Heenan said.
Who’s in and who’s out?
The Bull Sharks have retained just over 80 per cent of their 2025 premiership squad, though key departures include backrower and premiership star Matt Engelbrecht to an overseas contract and the retirement of Hamish Roberts, the man who scored the last- minute try in the grand final.
Club favourite Dan Boardman has also hung up the boots. Zane Misios has made the switch to league, and Charlie McCauley has moved back to Brisbane and joined GPS.
To fill the gap are the likes of UQ captain Willy Rua and Souths skipper Kohan Herbert.
Ollie Barrett has returned from a stint at the Western Force and Fijian recruit Akuila Qoro has impressed at outside centre since wandering into The Canal unannounced during pre-season training.
“There’s been some movement in the squad but it’s something we’ve been doing for a while, it’s not anything new,” Heenan said.
“Every year we have guys moving on and getting professional contracts which is fantastic - it’s what you want.”
Premier Women
Bond University is the undisputed powerhouse of women’s club rugby, and last weekend's Australian Rugby Club Championship saw them add another crown to their collection as they took down Warringah 24-0.
Despite missing several grand final players due to representative duties, the side showcased why they're so formidable – you just can’t keep them down.
With round one kicking off this weekend, they’ll start their campaign for a fifth consecutive Founders Cup.
During the club rugby break, a number of players have been training with the Reds and Wallaroos.
Among them, Evie Sampson’s whose strong form has been recognised. The scrumhalf earnt selection in the Wallaroos wider training squad.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have trained at some of the Wallaroos camps recently and have honestly learnt so much,” she said.
“I’m so excited by the opportunities I’ve been given and am excited to keep working on my craft.”
Colts
The Colts 2025 season didn’t end as hoped, with the side knocked out in the finals after such good form throughout their home-and-away campaign. With 2025 Colts coach Rico Gear moving into a new position as defence coach for First grade, Adam Fahey has stepped into lead the pack.
“Preseason has exceeded my expectation as to where the group is at. First and foremost, they're a great group of young men, they're pushing each other and training with smiles on their faces which is a positive sign,” Fahey said.
“We’ve just focused on what we need to be really good at – fitter, faster, smarter in everything we do. Our trial form indicates that we’re heading in the right direction.
“The defence has been a focus, if you're better conditioned then you make better decisions in defence, it's no secret the best defensive teams win competitions.”
Who’s in and who’s out?
“The players that have been here previously have really stood up – Blaze Moana and Callum Simpson. Hayden Keldie-Genner had stint in Scotland and he's come back a different player which has been awesome,” Fahey said.
“Ky Morris and Dan Wells are both new to the group this year, they’re two players who have brough a real competitive edge.
“Maxy Grills is back from injury and young Kobi Nouanrasy has played some junior rugby with the Reds.”
The Colts program has also picked up two exciting young prospects in Kingsley Uys and Bennett Armistead, both recipients of the John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship. Uys will feature intermittently as he balances representative
duties with the Reds and the Australian U20s, while Armistead is expected to return around Round 6 as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
This weekend
“UQ will be tough, they have a great forward pack with a few Reds boys back,” Fahey said.
“Our strengths are our set piece and keeping the ball in hand for long lengths of time. We ned to make the opposition tackle us rather than the way around.”