Hegarty has signed a deal with French club Grenoble and he will leave the ACT Brumbies at the end of the season to test himself in the forwards-dominated European contest.

It's a move he hopes will catapult him off the reserves bench and gives him a chance to prove he's capable of a regular spot in a professional starting XV.

And when the Queanbeyan junior feels ready, Hegarty says his No.1 goal is to return to the Brumbies and launch his bid for the No.2 jersey he dreams of having.

Hegarty has established himself as a strong back up to Wallabies rake Stephen Moore after making his Super Rugby debut last year.

Despite being in the Brumbies' system since he was a teenager, Hegarty's deal with Grenoble is his first full-time contract as a rugby player.

When he started his career in the Brumbies Academy, he spent his day working as a carpenter and four hours training in the afternoon.

''Some people are born [with rugby talent] and are in the right place at the right time,'' Hegarty said.

''Others have to work for it and that's what I think I've had to do.

''That's made me a stronger person and a bit more tolerant.

''Some people get contracted straight out of school, they don't know what it's like to have to go and work a job during the day and then go to training.

''I did that for a while before I got my crack, I definitely appreciate [my opportunity] a lot more and that makes me hungrier.''

Hegarty will get a chance to impress Brumbies coach Jake White against Wales at Canberra Stadium on Tuesday night and is expected to earn a starting cap with Moore away on Wallabies duties.

He will join Brumbies teammate Ben Hand at Grenoble with the lock also moving to France.

For most of Hegarty's career he's been forced to wait for his chance.

He was on an academy contract last year playing behind Moore and Huia Edmonds. But when both Wallabies hookers were all of a sudden injured, Hegarty was thrust into the starting XV.

The 25-year-old proved he could handle the pressure.

His lineout and scrum were solid and he established himself as one of the hardest hitters on the Brumbies' roster.

But Hegarty is the first to admit his game needs to lift to the next level.

That's why he's taken his chance in France and the chippy from Queanbeyan is going to Europe to achieve his goal.

He can't speak French, but Hegarty is confident he'll fit in.

''I'm very excited, but nervous at the same time,'' Hegarty said.

''I had a chat with [Brumbies forwards coach] Laurie Fisher and Jake and they said they want me playing more rugby.

''For me to develop … instead of sitting behind Moorey and Huia for such a long time, the best thing to do is to get out and play.

''They play 32 games in a season in France, hopefully I'll be coming back a better scrummager and set-piece player.

''Another start at another club is a positive step to start all over again and show what I can do.

''I'd definitely love to come back to Canberra, I'm going over there to improve and then I want to be able to come back and be ready to be a starting player.''