Dan McKellar hopes Nic White stays on home soil to chase Super Rugby success and a World Cup as the star scrumhalf weighs up a lucrative Japanese deal.
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The ACT Brumbies coach made his desire to keep White in Australian rugby clear as they sat together to front the media following a 28-17 win over the Highlanders in Melbourne on Sunday.
White is the latest player in the sights of rich overseas clubs. Tom Banks is on the verge of accepting an eye-watering deal in Japan, Irae Simone is bound for France, Nick Frost has signed with a Japanese club as Australian rugby fights to keep him, and Noah Lolesio is weighing up a Japanese deal.
"He's a huge member in the Brumbies and the Wallaby group as well. He's got a little bit of old school about him, Whitey, he likes to challenge and keep everyone accountable, players and staff," McKellar said.
"You need that within a group, the generation needs those that are very respectable and very humble. Having someone who is going to keep challenging you to be better, it's the reason why I wanted to bring him back in the first place. Hopefully he sticks around for a bit longer."
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White says he is yet to make a decision regarding his future, adding simply "that'll take its course and hopefully sort that out sooner rather than later".
The Brumbies could welcome captain Allan Alaalatoa [neck] and fullback Banks [cheekbone] back into the side to face the Wellington Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium next Sunday.
The Brumbies are unbeaten in Canberra this year with White relishing the chance to return to the capital in search of another Kiwi scalp.
"This was a good start but just the start today. It's great to get back to [Canberra], we absolutely love it," White said.
"We know teams don't like necessarily coming there so it's even better."
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