Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White believes it was a no-brainer to re-sign with the Brumbies and Australian Rugby as he looks to maintain his spot for July's series with England.
White signed a one-year deal but made it clear there are plenty of years left in the 31-year-old's body as he reaches the 'halfway' mark of his career.
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“It was an easy decision, I love this place,” White said on re-signing.
“Australian Rugby is heading in the right direction so I’m very happy to be sticking around. This World Cup (in 2023) is very important and this place is very special for myself and my family.
“I’m stoked I can put myself in the position for the World Cup and help the guys here because there’s a lot of young guys here at the Brumbies and Wallabies and if I can pass on that experience…I’ve worked hard to put myself in this position.”
White weighed up moves overseas, having originally left the Brumbies in 2015 for French club Montpellier before starring for English side Exeter.
With the allure to head to cashed-up European and Japanese clubs is as strong as ever, White knows the risk that exists in making the move, considering himself 'lucky' he was able to come back in 2019.
"I've passed that onto a lot of young guys asking questions. I left at a pretty young age and I did make it pretty clear, at the time I did feel like I'd make a mistake," he explained.
"I said 'if you do go, make sure you're playing for a good side over there so you're certainly in the forefront of everyone's mind back home and they want to get you back.'
"If you go overseas and you go to a club that isn't doing so well and you're not playing that well, it's very hard to get back. There's a lot of guys overseas that would love to come home and there's only a few of us that have actually been given that opportunity.
"I consider myself very lucky. I had to work hard to get it, but there was a long time there when I thought that opportunity would never come.”
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With this in mind, he was delighted to see fellow Brumby Noah Lolesio re-sign for the foreseeable future, confident he can eventually take over the number 10 jersey held by Quade Cooper and James O'Connor at the national level.
“Very happy (Lolesio’s) here…Selfishly stoked for (our) combination, but I also think it was a really good decision for him in the long run at such a young age,” White believes.
“With Bernie (Stephen Larkham) coming back, with other guys in his position getting a little bit older, he'll be pushing to take that jersey for his own at Wallaby level. If not, he'll be like a sponge soaking it up from those older guys.
"Just around the corner is the Lions and 2027, and he'll be in the frame for that. Again, nine and 10s, they're positions of learning and experience, and if we can build up that here in Australia, he's one for the future, for sure."
