But the 62-Test front-rower says it is ''totally understandable'' Wallabies and Brumbies skipper Ben Mowen has decided to leave Australian rugby at the end of the year to play in France.

Alexander signed a new deal with the Brumbies and the Australian Rugby Union last year with the aim of winning a Super Rugby title and the 2015 World Cup.

The 29-year-old could be tempted overseas at the end of next year, but Alexander said his only focus was winning titles.

''I'm getting old, I need to start winning some trophies,'' he said.

''I was tempted to go overseas after the last World Cup to try to develop, but I'm glad I stayed. There's a lot I want to achieve - a Super Rugby title, a World Cup and a Bledisloe Cup.

''I was a bit surprised [about Mowen], but it's totally understandable. It was for him to sort out and we'll look for a big season from him again this year to hopefully take us one step further.''

Mowen shocked Australian rugby recently when he announced he was quitting at the end of this season to move to France. His departure ends his dream of playing at the World Cup, and he is negotiating his release with the ARU and will play for the Brumbies this season.

Wallabies front-row duo Alexander and Stephen Moore will be with the Brumbies and the national team until at least the end of 2015. Together, they have played 153 Tests and 299 Super Rugby matches, but neither has won a Super Rugby title, World Cup or Bledisloe Cup.

The Brumbies lost the Super Rugby grand final last season and the disappointment of getting so close to a drought-breaking championship is driving the squad to go one better this year.

Since losing the Super Rugby final:

* Coach Jake White has been replaced by Stephen Larkham and Laurie Fisher.

* Chief executive Andrew Fagan quit and the club is searching for a replacement.

* Mowen announced his decision to leave Australia.

* The club is moving into a new, $15 million base at the University of Canberra.

''Our program has been set up well and we've tried to keep everything from that intact,'' Moore said. ''There was a lot of structural change, but those are things we've had to deal with … Laurie and [Larkham] have done an excellent job keeping what's important, as well as growing other areas to get to where we want to be - and that's to win the competition.''

The Brumbies will play their first trial match against the Otago Highlanders in Queenstown on Friday. Moore, Alexander and the Brumbies' Wallabies contingent will be rested, and David Pocock will lead the team in his comeback from a knee reconstruction.