Salvi, Julian

Julian Salvi is a tireless and tenacious back rower that appears a player destined for higher honours. At just 22, he has a wealth of junior representative experience to complement his four years as part of the CA Brumbies’ squad. The determined flanker featured in all but one match for the CA Brumbies in 2007 and showed his versatility playing across the back of the scrum during the Investec Super 14 season. Salvi, who formed an imposing back row quartet with George Smith, Stephen Hoiles and Jone Tawake, was chosen for Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup, playing the initial four fixtures before a head gash suffered against the Junior All Blacks ruled him out of the final match against Fiji in Suva. His status as a star on the rise was confirmed when he was selected as part of the Wallabies’ World Cup shadow squad after being included in their initial World Cup training camp at the beginning of 2007.  Salvi completed the season as an integral member of the Navy Canberra Vikings’ squad in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship, flourishing under the trial Experimental Law Variations.

Born and raised in Canberra, Salvi attended Marist College where he represented the Australian Schoolboys for two years, captaining the side during his second season in 2003. He became the first CA Brumbies player to be contracted directly from school when he joined the squad in 2004. The following year he made his Super Rugby debut when he was selected in the run-on side against the Chiefs after George Smith was ruled out with a chest injury. Salvi, who represented the Australian Under 21’s in 2005 and 2006, established himself as a regular member of the CA Brumbies’ squad in 2006 before going on to lead his club side, Tuggeranong, to a John I Dent Cup premiership with a grand final man-of-the-match performance. He completed the year with a stellar showing for the CA Brumbies in their Australian Provincial Championship win and selection for the Prime Minister’s XV in their 61-19 win over Japan in Tokyo.