ACT Computer Associates Brumbies and Wallaby centre, Rod Kafer, will play his 50th Super 12 match against the Wellington Hurricanes at Westpac Trust Stadium tomorrow night.
Kafer becomes only the seventh ACT Brumbies player to reach 50 or more Super 12 caps, joining current team mates George Gregan, David Giffin, Stephen Larkham and Joe Roff and former players Ipolito Fenukitau and Patricio
Noriega.
Kafer made his Super 12 debut in the first round of 1996 against Transvaal at Bruce Stadium and then came on as a reserve against Auckland in 1997 to score his first Super 12 try.
He made his ACT debut in 1991 against Victoria and has played a total of 82 matches for the Territory scoring over 60 points, including three Super 12 drop goals from three attempts.
On top of representing the ACT for the past ten seasons, Kafer made his Wallaby debut against the All Blacks at Stadium Australia in 1999, toured with the World Cup squad and has been capped 12 times for the Wallabies.
Brumbies coach Eddie Jones says the 50 game milestone is a reward for Kafer's tenacity and durability.
"Kafe is one of the most influential players in the Brumbies short history. He's been a key architect and builder of the Brumbies' style and culture. As a player he's been consistently among our best, at times brilliant and always reliable while off the field he does everything he possibly can to ensure that we don't stand still," said Jones.
"I can't speak highly enough of his place in the Brumbies and the contribution he's made. Hopefully we'll be able to celebrate his 50 games with a win tomorrow night."
Brumbies Captain George Gregan also praised the role Kafer has played with the Brumbies.
"I credit him as being the most influential person in my playing career and I know a lot of the other Brumbies feel the same way. He's always working in the best interests of the team looking for new and improved ways of doing things," said Gregan.
"Fifty games is an important milestone in Kafe's career and it will certainly add to our motivation to play well in tomorrow night's match."
At today's Captain's Run at the Westpac Trust Stadium (the Cake Tin), the Brumbies battled extremely windy conditions. Jones says that if the blustery conditions continue, it will effect the way the game is played.
"Craig McMullen took a drop out and it just made 10 metres. In the identical spot, two minutes later, he kicked it 50 metres on the fly. We'll wait and see what happens with the weather tomorrow but if remains this windy we will have to alter a few things."
Jones also announced that David Giffin was out of the match for tomorrow
night.
'He just wasn't quite right. He ran well today but he's not 100%. He will play next week against the Waratahs," said Jones. (AAP)