Being tied up and robbed at gun point, having homes torched and dogs poisoned are experiences that will haunt his family forever.

But after his parents decided to start a new life in Australia a decade ago, Prior is determined to repay them for giving him an opportunity to chase his rugby dream.

Prior joined the ACT Brumbies this year to launch his career as an emerging scrumhalf.

It's the first time he has moved away from his tight-knit family, now based in Queensland. Canberra is a world away from the crime and violence he grew up with in Zimbabwe.

''I'm just really fortunate to have my parents and what they did for me and my sister,'' Prior said.

''It was a big call to come to Australia and start all over again and it obviously affects you.

''That's why I'm so grateful because they've given me the opportunity to be where I am today.''

Prior's journey began in Queensland.

His parents - Ivor and Caroline - moved from Zimbabwe to Australia in 1987 to start a family.

Just three years after Prior was born, they moved back to Zimbabwe in 1993 to be closer to his mother's relatives.

He grew up in an environment where a 12-foot security wall around their house, security guards and dogs seemed normal.

But as the country spiraled deeper into violence and danger, the Priors lived in fear. The majority of his family are farmers.

The conflict in Zimbabwe stemmed from president Robert Mugabe encouraging war veterans and youth militia to take back land from white farmers. It crippled the country as Mugabe started forcible land distribution.

Ivor Prior worked in agriculture, but his family was safe in its protected city home. Ian Prior's grandparents weren't so safe.

The Brumbies halfback tells the story of his grandparents being tied up and robbed at gun point when the rebels stormed their house. His aunt, uncle and three cousins were given 30 minutes to get out of their home before it was torched and their dog was poisoned.

It prompted the Priors to try to begin a new life in Australia in 2000.

For three years Prior didn't have a bedroom of his own. He slept on the floor in his dad's office at their home as dozens of family and friends moved to Queensland to join them.

But Prior doesn't regret anything and says his journey so far has made him the person he is.

''The good thing is everyone got away and now [my aunt, uncle and cousins] live 15 minutes away from where my parents are,'' Prior said.

''When all of our extended family got here they all stayed with us, we probably had 10 people in our house for three years consecutively.

''I guess I didn't fully understand it when I was younger, but we knew of it and it's scary.

''I'm just lucky that my parents were able to move and I didn't have to deal with the consequences.''

Now he's trying to launch his Super Rugby career.

Prior kick-started his career as a jack-of-all-trades for the Queensland Reds last year.

This year he's in a battle with Nic White to be the Brumbies' first-choice No.9. He earned his first Super Rugby start last week against the Waikato Chiefs, but returns to the bench for tomorrow's match against the Otago Highlanders.

Prior, 21, says the Brumbies have become his ''new family'' in Canberra.

His parents bought plane tickets from Brisbane to Canberra for the first three home games of the 2012 season and will be at Canberra Stadium tonight. He plans to buy their tickets in the future.

''I'm close to my family and they've been to a few games now, it is tough being away from them but it's part of growing up.

''[My parents] have done so much for me over the years.

''My parents mean a lot to me and to be in a position to maybe buy some plane tickets, I'll help in any way I can.

''But I've found it easy to fit in here because I knew a few of the boys from the [Australian] under 20s and when you spend as much time together as we do you really do become a new family.''