Fotu Auelua

Brumbies cult hero Fotu Auelua has put pen to paper to stay with the club for another season, through to the end of 2015.

With 30 caps to his name, the 30-year-old loose-forward has developed into one of the club’s old heads and was a member of the Brumbies leadership group through pre-season 2014.

Arriving in Canberra from Japan in 2012, Auelua has become a fan favourite over the last three years thanks to his take-no-prisoners approach to getting his side over the advantage line.

Auelua said he was looking forward to another 12 months in the Australian capital.

“It’s been a longer process than usual getting my contract sorted but now that it’s done I’m feeling really positive about the next 12 months with the Brumbies,” Auelua said.

“Since I arrived here we’ve been able to achieve plenty of success. I think most of the boys here would rate the Final last year as a career highlight. Unfortunately I was injured for the Lions series but it was incredible to be part of the squad which knocked them over.”

“I’ve stayed because I feel this group can achieve more of those big moments in the next 12 months. We know each other a bit better and that experience is really starting to show.”

“While this is exciting news for me personally, my focus this week is on the Force and ensuring we are at our best to have a crack at a home final the following weekend.”

An Australian Schoolboys star who also represented the Parramatta Eels in rugby league as a junior, Auelua has long been touted as a player who could cut it at Test level.

While injuries have hampered his green and gold ambitions over the last few years, Auelua heads into the back end of the 2014 season fully fit and itching for a crack at the next level.