And after two years of no sport and no training, the aspiring hooker is more determined than ever to chase his goal of winning a spot in the ACT Brumbies squad.

Like NRL star Will Hopoate, Abel put his religion before his career when he opted to begin his service as a missionary in August 2010.

At the time, the former Australian Schoolboys star was weighing up whether to chase a Super Rugby deal or ''give up normal life'' to go on his mission in Western Australia.

In the end, religion took priority and Abel travelled around the state teaching his religion to anyone he came across.

But now he's back and, despite playing just four games in the past 2½ years, Abel wants a crack at Super Rugby and has impressed the Brumbies enough to get a chance to train with the full-time squad.

''Coming back here now, there are a lot of things in life that I've learned and can put into rugby … the mission taught me how to work hard and really have a crack,'' Abel said. ''When you make the transition from normal life into full-time missionary service, you're very much thrown in the deep end straight away.

''One day you're a normal kid and the next you're teaching people and doing something you've never done before.

''That's what rugby is like now, being thrown back in the deep end. I definitely wanted to come back and play, but I never knew I would get an opportunity like this.''

Abel was establishing himself as a star on the rise before leaving the capital.

By 21, he had played for the Australian Schoolboys, was a regular member of the Royals first-grade side and was training with the Brumbies Academy.

But he decided if he didn't do his Mormon mission, he would never get the chance.

It meant sacrificing television, sport and music to spend every day on the streets until 10.30pm and spreading his religion to different communities.

There were times when he feared he would never get a chance to recapture the promising rugby career he was building.

But one of the first places he went when he got back to Canberra was Brumbies headquarters in Griffith.

His initiation was brutal - a one-on-one scrum session with Dan Palmer - and after two years of no gym or scrum work, Abel's body felt the pain.

A knee injury to Brumbies extended squad player Josh Mann-Rea has opened the door for Abel to push his claims as a back-up hooker to Stephen Moore and Siliva Siliva. And Brumbies forwards coach Laurie Fisher said the 23-year-old's determination was evident from the start.

''He's a good trainer, he works hard but he's pretty raw knowledge wise,'' Fisher said.

''He's a great kid, I've been really impressed by him and you can see when a bloke is hungry to make it or for an opportunity.

''He's leaving no stone unturned, he's showing us he's a dedicated trainer and he can make progress and that's what you look for.''

Abel has no regrets about putting his career on hold.

Despite not training during his mission, Abel is stronger than he has been in the past.

The biggest problem he's faced since returning is being unable to sit through a movie or watch television. ''TV feels like a waste of time now, I can't watch movies any more because I can't get through a whole one,'' Abel said. ''I feel blessed in a lot of ways to get the chances I've got now and find strength I've never had before.

''I loved my two years, they were awesome … if I didn't go then I would have never gone and I'm definitely glad with the position I'm in now.''