Rugby: Unlikely trio see a future with Brumbies

Wallabies flanker Scott Fardy and All Blacks number eight Kieran Read. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A former coalminer, a country boy and a Japanese tsunami survivor.

Wallabies forward Scott Fardy admits he, Josh Mann-Rea and Sam Carter make an unlikely test trio - but that's one of his key reasons behind their decision to re-sign with the Brumbies until the end of 2017. Carter and Fardy have also both secured two-year contract extensions with the ARU.

However Mann-Rea, who was called into the test side last year as the ninth-string hooker after an injury crisis, has only re-signed with the Brumbies.

Fardy joined the Brumbies in 2012 after the 2011 Tohoku tsunami destroyed half the Japanese village he was living in while playing for the Kamaishi Seawaves.

Fortunately for Fardy, he was living at the safe end of the village, however 1300 residents lost their lives.

After volunteering in the recovery efforts and finishing off the season, Fardy had another go at cracking Super Rugby. He's since struck up a strong friendship with young Wallabies lock Carter, whose father and former Wallaby David runs a big farm out in Quirindi, NSW.

Mann-Rea, on the other hand, gave up rugby in 2007 to spend a few years working 500m underground in the Illawarra coalmines to provide for his family - before also giving rugby another crack.

Fardy admits they're an odd bunch, but he wouldn't prefer to be around any other group.

Fardy and Carter's signature is a huge boost the Wallabies.

With the 2015 Rugby World Cup in September, more and more Wallabies are looking to spend the 2016 and 2017 seasons with lucrative deals in Europe and Japan before making their next run at the 2019 World Cup.

Carter, the Wallabies' 2014 Rookie of the Year, has spoken to Fardy about his experience playing overseas compared with the pride of playing for your country.

"We've seen a few blokes going overseas in the last couple of years," Carter said. "But the big one is the chance to play for your country. That's a major tick in any box. Any kid growing up wants to play at the highest level. It's one of the main motivators for myself."