The ACT Brumbies will build their roster around the anchor of their scrum after re-signing prop Allan Alaalatoa to a massive four-year contract extension.
As revealed by Fairfax Media earlier this month, the Brumbies and Rugby Australia have secured Alaalatoa until the end of 2023 in a massive coup for the Canberra Super Rugby franchise.
Locked in: Alaalatoa will be in Canberra until at least the end of 2023.Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong
Alaalatoa is the first Brumbies player to commit his long-term future to the club, agreeing to stay in the capital for at least the next five years.
The timing of the contract means the Brumbies and Wallabies won't have to fight off European and Japanese clubs who would have been keen to lure the 24-year-old overseas after the World Cup next year.
The Brumbies hope he is the first of many to re-sign with the club, but there are a host of stars who will be targeted by lucrative offers from overseas.
Alaalatoa's Brumbies and Wallabies front-row partner Scott Sio is one of the players who will be searching for new deals after the World Cup next year.
David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Sam Carter, Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani are also about to start the final year of their existing deals with Australian rugby.
Alaalatoa's decision to stay is a massive coup for the Brumbies, who view the 30-Test Wallaby as a leader of the future.
He will be one of the players to guide the Brumbies' new generation, with a group of players between the age of 20-25 ready to make their mark in Super Rugby.
The club's non-Wallabies representatives will start pre-season training at the end of November before international players return to training in January.
"There's a lot of really exciting young talent coming through. On the back of what's happened since Super Rugby finished there's plenty to look forward to but there's a whole lot of work to be done between now and February 15," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said this month.
Three-game Brumbies rookie Rob Valetini has been added to the Wallabies squad for the spring tour of Europe, with the 20-year-old back-rower to use the trip as a development opportunity.
Brumbies Alaalatoa, Scott Sio and hooker Folau Faingaa formed a solid combination in Super Rugby and the trio were picked as the Wallabies' starting front row last weekend.
Fullback Tom Banks is trying to force his way into the Wallabies' starting side, while Tevita Kuridrani will get a full pre-season in Canberra for the first time since 2013 after his pectoral injury ruled him out of the spring tour.
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