Brumbies coach Andy Friend hailed his team of heroes after their tumultuous Super 14 season came to an end early on Saturday morning.

A narrow 10-7 loss to the Chiefs in rainy Hamilton on Friday night and the NSW Waratahs' nailbiting 38-33 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg ended the Brumbies' emotional bid to win the title for fallen teammate Shawn Mackay.

The inspired Brumbies won five of their seven games since the tragic road accident in Durban that ultimately claimed Mackay's life last month, but still fell painfully short of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

"It's been a difficult season with so many highs and lows, but the way the guys have hung in there, you couldn't ask for any more," Friend said on Saturday.

"Even last night, the boys tried their hearts out. You could see how much it meant to them. There's a special bond and great friendships among this group."

The Brumbies have much to look forward to in 2010.

The return home of backline superstar Matt Giteau, the recruitment of former Wallabies halfback Josh Valentine and the retention of champion flanker George Smith massive boosts for the ACT franchise.

"It's a bit too early to think about next season. The boys are still coming to the realisation that this season is over," Friend said.

"But the biggest thing to come out of the season is that we've built a foundation to go forward from."

Needing a bonus-point victory to clinch a semi-finals berth, the Brumbies gave themselves every chance when they opened the scoring at Waikato Stadium with a 34th-minute try to winger Francis Fainifo, which Stirling Mortlock converted for a 7-0 lead.

But the Chiefs hit straight back, with five-eighth Stephen Donald capitalising on a 50-metre movement to score and convert in the 37th minute, leaving the game in the balance at 7-7 at the break.

The Chiefs camped inside the Brumbies half for most of the second half, with Donald nailing the winning penalty from in front of the posts with 13 minutes remaining.

The Chiefs' ninth win from their past 10 games thrust the New Zealanders into the playoffs for only the second time in 13 years of Super rugby - and earned them their first-ever home semi-final.

"We're absolutely delighted," Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said.

"It was pretty tough out there. It wasn't a spectacle but this is what we wanted to achieve.

"A win's a win. We're into that top four now, so what more can you ask for?"

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