Born in Wellington, New Zealand on 20 July 1991, Jarrad grew up on the Gold Coast after moving there with his family, attending The Southport School where he was an integral member of their 1st XV.
Butler represented Queensland at the National Schoolboys before joining the Australian Schools side in 2007 and starring for the National U20s at the Junior World Cup in Italy in 2011.
Butler made his Super Rugby debut with the Queensland Reds in round 17 of the 2012 Super Rugby competition, before making 10 appearances for the side in 2013.
Keen for increased opportunity, Butler joined the Brumbies at the end of the 2013 season.
The move paid off for Butler with the flanker / number 8 starting in every game for the Brumbies in 2014, with an average of 72 minutes per game.
It was a stellar year for Butler, who finished with the second highest tackle count in the Super Rugby tournament.
He also became a prized part of the UC Vikings as the side’s Vice Captain during their opening stint of the inaugural Buildcorp NRC. He was named the team’s first Players’ Player by the end of the tournament.
Butler won a further two accolades at the annual Brumby Ball in 2014, the Shawn Mackay most outstanding young talent, and was again acknowledged by his peers to win the Brett Robinson Players’ Player Award.
In what was a highly successful season for the 20-year-old, Butler was also amongst the nominees in line to win RUPA’s 2014 Medal for Excellence for his performance both on and off the field.
After just five rounds into this year’s Super Rugby season, Butler has one try and another assist under his belt and is already on Wallaby Coach, Michael Cheika’s radar in a blockbuster Rugby World Cup year. He’s also again well and truly on the Super Rugby tackling leader board.
Butler is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce through the University of Southern Queensland.
He was today named as the Brumbies' starting openside flanker for this Sunday's historic rivalry match against 2014 Super Rugby Champions the NSW Waratahs at Allianz Stadium, with David Pocock returning to the bench.
