Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani is suspended until the Super Rugby opener and risks losing his starting spot with the ACT Brumbies, but there is a strong foundation to his pre-season break - to get his parents a house.
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Kuridrani's breakthrough year with the Wallabies was halted when he was suspended for five-matches for an innocuous tip-tackle in the Test against Ireland in November.
The ban will prevent the 22-year-old from playing in any of the Brumbies' pre-season games, giving teammate Andrew Smith the chance to start at outside centre for the ACT's opening Super Rugby match against Queensland on February 22.
Kuridrani admits he was devastated by the suspension and has some work to do to regain his starting spot with the Brumbies.
But the powerful Fijian's desire to buy his parents a new home in Brisbane is driving Kuridrani to reclaim his No.13 jersey with the Brumbies and the Wallabies.
His parents' home was damaged in the 2011 Brisbane floods, with water rising to roof level.
''All of our family is close, everything I do is for them,'' he said. ''They all came to my debut Test in Sydney, and that was awesome, but Mum and Dad have been living back in Fiji for the last little while. I'm still planning to buy them a new house, hopefully by the end of the year.''
Kuridrani is back at pre-season training, but will miss trial matches against the Otago Highlanders in Queenstown and an ACT XV. He has played 26 Super Rugby games, and earned 10 Test caps last year.
But Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said Kuridrani may have to start his 2014 campaign from the bench because of his missed pre-season opportunity.
''Tevita's rise is testament to his pre-season last year,'' Larkham said. ''He turned things around last year. The first season he was here [in 2012], he had a few problems controlling the ball in contact.
''We knew he'd have a good year, and then he got a lot of confidence going on to the Wallabies. He cemented his position and looked comfortable there.''
The Brumbies will probably promote Smith to the No.13 jersey for the season opener.
Smith missed most of last year with injury, and his absence allowed Kuridrani to force his way into the Wallabies line-up.
''I've got to earn my spot back in the Brumbies, that's first, and then if it goes well keep developing this year to have another crack at the Wallabies,'' Kuridrani said.
''I'll have to wait for my opportunity to come again.''
