The pair grew up together in Quirindi, in northern NSW, switching from soccer to rugby union as juniors. As adults, they continued a tradition of annual camping trips with their fathers in bush surrounding their home town.

So when Tooth died last week, after a collision in a rugby match while playing for the Quirindi Lions, Carter knew where his support was needed most.

The ACT Brumbies lock withdrew from the match against the Otago Highlanders and drove eight hours home for family and friends, to be a pallbearer at Tooth's funeral on Tuesday.

Carter will make an emotional return to Super Rugby when the Brumbies play the NSW Waratahs on Friday night, just days after carrying one of his oldest friends out of St Albans church.

"It was a tragic thing. No one expected it, no one could have seen it coming," said Carter's father and former Wallaby David Carter.

"Sam said he'd like to get his mind back on the job at hand rather than mope around up here.

"That's what he wants to do. I know he wants to do the best he can for himself and the Brumbies.

"I've seen that church [in Quirindi] pretty full, but I've never seen it as deep as they were on Tuesday.

"We watched the boys grow up. They were close: soccer, rugby, camping. It was a tight bond from when they were young."

The Brumbies' clash against the Waratahs is the biggest Australian Super Rugby match of the season.

The winner will get the edge in the race for Australia's guaranteed finals berth while Wallabies spots will be on the line as players fight for World Cup selection.

But for Carter, Tooth's death put rugby in perspective.

The Brumbies have vowed to rally around Carter, captain Stephen Moore offering his support if needed and the team wore black armbands last week in a show of solidarity.

"We know we're going to have to get around [Carter] a little bit and after the week he's had he's probably looking forward to playing," Moore said.

"I spoke to him before he went home. It's just a case of letting him know we're here for support, and I think he knows that.

"We're a pretty tight group and he's an important part of that group. We gave him the time and space he needed ... footy is what he knows and loves and that's a good way for him to honour his mate."

The ARU has offered its support to the Quirindi rugby club, sending a counsellor to speak with players, friends and family.

Carter and Tooth learnt their skills on family farms and local rugby fields as they forged a bond. They would join their dads and two other father-son friends on an annual camping trip into the bush.

It was a tradition they continued until Carter's call-up to the Wallabies' spring tour of Europe led to him starting an international rugby career instead of roughing it in a tent.

The same camping mates made the trip to Brisbane for Carter's first Test against France in June last year.

"They played junior soccer and rugby together, they went to different secondary schools but they always caught up in the holidays," David Carter said.

"There were four fathers and four sons. We used to go camping on the long weekend [in October] on a couple of the properties up from where we live.

"We watched the boys grow up. Nick was one of those and Sam was another. They were pretty close.

"We spoke about when he was ready to go back [to the Brumbies]. But he got up and said he was ready, he'd cleared his head and he drove back to Canberra and started training by himself.

"Sam feels comfortable, he's amongst friends and people that he trusts. He farewelled Nick. Now we'll continue to support the family but I'm sure Nick would have wanted blokes to go about their business as usual."

SUPER RUGBY ROUND 12

Friday: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm. TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2. Tickets available from Ticketek.

Brumbies team: 15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Robbie Coleman, 11. Joseph Tomane, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 9. Michael Dowsett, 8. Ita Vaea, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Jordan Smiler, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Jean-Pierre Smith. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Allan Alaalatoa, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Blake Enever, 20. Jarrad Butler, 21. Joe Powell, 22. James Dargaville, 23. Nigel Ah Wong.