New NSW Waratah Pete Samu is finally ready to pull on the sky blue jersey as he opens up on his controversial First Nations Pasifika exclusion by the British & Irish Lions.
Samu will start at number eight for the NSW Waratahs against the ACT Brumbies on Thursday, both teams' final hit-outs before the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
For Samu, it's over a decade in the making after the Melbourne-born back-rower made the trip up to join Shute Shield club Randwick.
Stints in New Zealand, the ACT and France would follow before being drawn home in a big coup for the club, reuniting with former coach Dan McKellar.
“It's always good to come back home. Obviously, I played here in Sydney years ago and it feels like a full circle moment, but it’s really exciting," he told Rugby.com.au
“12 months ago, I probably would have said I was going to be in France for a few years…but I think coming back home was always something that I was keen on, especially with the home World Cup."
Samu found himself centre stage of the British & Irish Lions series after he was denied playing for First Nations Pasifika.
The Bordeaux title winner was originally named, only to be pulled last minute as the Lions insisted they would only face a team made up of players who featured in Super Rugby Pacific in 2025.
"It was weird to be told I wasn't going to be able to play but that's what it is," he admits.
"We're playing for something bigger than ourselves and we didn't want it to be a one-off game. We wanted to hopefully in the future continue that thing going.
“It was pretty cool to experience and just hear stories of where the boys have come from. They didn't get the win, but it was an awesome game to watch and be a part of.
“I'd like to think that I'd make a difference being in that team, but the squad that went out there on the field did an awesome job."
The gold jersey remains an ongoing goal for Samu, getting a taste of it against Italy on the Spring Tour.
The ten minutes off the bench only fueled the fire for the 34-year-old to add to his 34 caps.
But first, bringing success to the Waratahs is the focus, who are out for their first title since 2014.
"That's the priority for me," Samu said.
"The Wallabies will come later in the year but being the start of the season, I think the main focus is the team and what's best for the team."
