Stephen Moore will take over as Brumbies captain in 2015.

Stephen Moore will take over as ACT Brumbies captain in 2015.

Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore will captain the Brumbies for the 2015 Super Rugby season.

Moore will replace Ben Mowen, who quit Australian rugby to pursue his career in France.

The Brumbies will announce Moore’s appointment on Wednesday morning, backing the experienced hooker to guide the club to Super Rugby success.

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The news comes on the same day teammate Pat McCabe’s career has come to a heartbreaking end after fracturing his neck for a third time.

It’s understood McCabe, 26, will never play again after scans confirmed he has broken his neck again.

McCabe has previously broken his neck in November 2012 and against the British and Irish Lions in June last year, both times playing for the Wallabies.

He suffered the same devastating injury in the Wallabies’ Test against the All Blacks last weekend.

Moore, 31, has played 92 Tests for Australia and also replaced Mowen as the Wallabies captain this year.

But just minutes into his tenure as Australia’s leader in June, Moore ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will not play again until March next year.

Moore’s Brumbies promotion will come three years after most thought he would step into the job when World Cup-winning coach Jake White started at the club.

But White opted to use Mowen in the leadership role and Moore was a vice captain.

Moore is one of the most respected players in world rugby, making his Super Rugby debut for Queensland in 2003 and playing his first Test for the Wallabies in 2005.

He is regarded as one of the best hookers in the game.

Moore was contemplating a move overseas at the end of his Brumbies contract and after the World Cup next year.

But his knee injury – which required surgery and nine months of recovery – has led to Moore considering a longer stay in Australia.

It’s understood coach Stephen Larkham will ramp up contract negotiations with Moore, David Pocock and Ben Alexander in the coming weeks to keep them in Canberra beyond the end of next year.

Moore will likely miss the start of the Super Rugby season in January. His absence will force Larkham to appoint an interim captain for the early parts of the year.

Former Wallabies captain David Pocock looms as a likely candidate, while Nic White, Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano can also step into the leadership duties.

McCabe has one year remaining on his Brumbies contract and could take on an off-field role the club.

“Pat has had a number of good years at the Brumbies, I really thought this year was his best year in terms of performance,” Larkham said.

“He had a really good preseason, he had a bit of a scare earlier in the year but he overcame that and fought his way back into the Wallabies side and I thought things were up and up for him from here, so really devastating news for Patty and for his family.”

“The good thing is he’s in a neck brace at the moment and will stay in that neck brace for the next couple of months and the neck should heal up fine, but devastating that he won’t play rugby again.”

NEW BRUMBIES CAPTAIN

Name: Stephen Moore
Age: 31
Super Rugby games: 131
Tests: 92