Mauritius: Brent Hamlin's rugby journey has taken him around the world, but a 10s tournament on a tiny island in the Indian Ocean could be the catalyst to launch his professional career.
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Canberra Royals scrumhalf Hamlin will join the ACT Brumbies as the only non-Super Rugby player at their world club 10s campaign in Mauritius on Saturday.
Hamlin has spent almost a decade on the road testing himself in different competitions in different countries in the pursuit of his rugby goals.
It started in Canberra when he was recruited to the Brumbies program as a junior star before taking chances in Brisbane, the United States, England and New Zealand before landing back in the capital.
Now he'll get the chance to play against former All Black Jimmy Cowan to prove he can handle the step to the next level.
"I've been chasing rugby around for a little while now … I've done a bit of travel during that time and it's been good," Hamlin said.
"I'm not too sure if there's any opportunity at the Brumbies, but if there is one then I'm hoping to have a good crack at the National Rugby Championship and go from there.
"If there's a contract there, then I'll see how I go. If not there's always the chance to go overseas again, but I'm getting on a bit now so you've got to think about life after footy."
Hamlin has put his job as a teacher's aide on hold for a week to travel with the Brumbies to Mauritius for clashes against some of the biggest teams in world rugby.
The Brumbies open their campaign against French giants Toulon on Saturday and good performances in the tournament could be enough to impress cashed-up European clubs for a chance to play abroad.
Hamlin was rated as a top schoolboy star and played with Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua in Brisbane when they were both asked to come to Canberra.
"It will be pretty cool to go up against guys like Will Genia, it's a good marker to see where I'm at as well," Hamlin said.
"I'll see if I can match it with them. But 10s is a different game, it won't be so structured for a halfback. It will be more helter-skelter and be crazy, but I'm looking forward to it."
* Chris Dutton is in Mauritius for the world club 10s tournament as a guest of Mauritius Tourism and Carinat Sports Marketing.
WORLD CLUB 10s IN MAURITIUS
Saturday: Brumbies v Toulon at 4pm, Brumbies v Western Force at 7.36pm, Brumbies v Italian All Stars at 10.48pm. Finals on Sunday. All games in AEST.
Brumbies squad: Tom Staniforth, Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Ruan Smith, Robbie Abel, Josh Mann_Rea, Blake Enever, Jarrad Butler, Jordan Smiler, Michael Wells, Michael Dowsett, Brent Hamlin, Robbie Coleman, James Dargaville, Nigel Ah Wong, Lausii Taliauli, Aidan Toua.
