Scott Fardy wants to repay Jake White for giving him his Super Rugby opportunity and is determined not to let the ACT Brumbies down after signing a new two-year deal.
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Fardy ended a career of uncertainty by agreeing to his first multi-year deal to remain with the Brumbies until at least the end of the 2014 season.
It caps off a stunning rise from rugby obscurity to the Brumbies starting XV.
There was a time not long ago when Fardy thought his professional rugby dream was over. But in just six months he has been promoted from the extended player squad to a full-time contract.
Before joining the Brumbies, Fardy was playing in Japan not knowing if he would get a chance to play Super Rugby.
''I probably considered ending trying to be a professional rugby player and I was going to give it one more year in Japan and then come home,'' Fardy said.
''I don't know what I would be doing after rugby but thankfully it didn't get to that.
''There were some serious times where I thought I wouldn't get to Super Rugby so it's a relief to get a crack.
''I think we're building something here, Jake gave me my shot and I've said to my agent I want to stay here.
''The goal was to come back and get a two-year contract, I've never had one before and I've always been year-to-year.''
Fardy has performed so well in his debut campaign that White described him as epitomising everything he wanted in a player.
Few can doubt Fardy's hunger.
Since joining the Brumbies squad he has been one of the most hard-working players and has impressed so much he has been a regular in the starting XV.
His ability to play lock and blindside flanker makes him a valuable asset to White and he adds aggression to the young forward pack.
The 27-year-old is one of the oldest rookies in Super Rugby.
Forwards coach Laurie Fisher described him as an ''unfashionable footballer'' but said his desperate desire to do well made him one of the squad's strongest players.
''He's certainly not technically the best footballer around, but he's very fit and a scrapper,'' Fisher said.
''He's in there competing, hard to shift, and he's in every contest.
''He's got good balance, he's an unfashionable footballer, but he gets the job done.''
