Royals will delay a decision on whether to pursue action against Soakai Tai until after their local rugby grudge match against the Queanbeyan Whites on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two-time John I Dent best and fairest winner Tai will play against Royals for the first time this weekend after defecting to the Whites in the off-season.
Royals are still considering taking legal action, seeking compensation for visa payments after recruiting Tai to Canberra in 2008.
But the Phillip-based club will wait until Queanbeyan responds to its concerns, setting the stage for a fierce battle between the teams at Campese field.
Adding extra spice to the match is the fact Royals' coach Wayne Southwell is going up against the Whites for the first time after leading Queanbeyan to a premiership in 2010.
"As far as we are concerned, it's settled and we've moved on, we're just looking forward to playing footy," said Queanbeyan coach Adam Fahey.
"There is a bit of spark in this game with [Southwell] coming back and Sok's situation, it's great for club rugby. But for us, it hasn't been spoken about once. To have Sok sorted is a relief and a release, to be honest. Sometimes we put too much emphasis on the off-field stuff.
"This is fantastic for local rugby, if you're an old boy and you love bashing and up-the-guts play, this is the game for you."
Up to 12 ACT Brumbies will be filtered back into Canberra's premier division to bolster the playing ranks in the Super Rugby bye week.
But the focus at Queanbeyan will be a long-stranding club rivalry, players switching teams and Southwell's Queanbeyan returns.
Southwell and Fahey teamed up as Queanbeyan's coaching duo before Southwell started a stint in Canada to further this coaching. The Canberra rugby veteran as been described as the "wizard of coaching" in the John I Dent Cup.
"He knows every blade of grass out at Queanbeyan ... he led the club to a premiership in 2010 and the clubs have a great rivalry anyway," Fahey said.
"The Wayne Southwell return adds a lot of spark, he'll know what to expect when he's coming back. He used to be my coach [at Queanbeyan] before I retired ... everyone respects him but he's on the other side of the fence this week."
Southwell spent the past two years as the head coach for the Saints Rugby Club in Calgary.
Southwell even recruited Queanbeyan skipper Dan Penca to Canada for a guest playing stint last year, but the pair will go head-to-head on Saturday.
"It was enormously refreshing over there, you had to go back to basics and revamp what you're doing and how you're doing it as a coach," Southwell said.
"I think I have come out better, it has revitalised me and I analyse things differently, you don't take things for granted either. It's nice to get back into the Canberra atmosphere, it's great to be back."
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 2
Saturday: Wests v Tuggeranong at Radford College, Easts v Gungahlin Eagles at Burgmann College, Queanbeyan Whites v Royals at Campese Field. Uni-Norths Owls - bye. All games start at 3.05pm.
Brumbies players: Fotu Auelua, Sean Doyle, Jesse Mogg, Ratu Tagive (Wests); Rodney Iona (Tuggeranong Vikings); Jordan Smiler, Jean-Pierre Smith, Ruan Smith, Blake Enever (Easts); James Dargaville (Gungahlin Eagles); Tom Staniforth, Lausii Taliauli (Royals).
