sport, brumbies, ACT Brumbies, Super Rugby, Scott Sio, Brumbies contracts, Wallabies, David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano

The desire to chase Super Rugby glory in Canberra helped convince Wallabies prop Scott Sio to turn his back on overseas offers to instead to sign a three-year contract extension in Australia. The ACT Brumbies and Rugby Australia will announce Sio's new deal on Wednesday morning, with the front-rower committed to staying in the capital until at least the end of 2022. It's a huge boost for the Brumbies as they prepare to resume their charge to the finals and some welcome good news for Australian rugby after the Israel Folau saga dominated headlines for the past two months. Sio, a 55-Test and 96 Super Rugby capped prop, hopes more good news is to follow, starting with the Brumbies' hopes of being a title contender and the Wallabies' looming World Cup campaign in Japan later this year. "I'm still chasing that Super Rugby title and success at the Brumbies. If I can be a small part of that in the coming years, that's my main goal," Sio said. "What I want to achieve at the Brumbies is why I stayed and probably why I'm still here in Australian rugby. I won't lie, the opportunity to go overseas, and to live a different lifestyle, was there. "But we're always chasing success. Not having that at the Brumbies, that's something I want to experience and I want to be a part of it with all of these young guys coming through. I'm really excited about the youth coming through and excited to be a part of their journey. MORE BRUMBIES NEWS "There's this year as well. We've got four games left [in the regular season] to make the most of it and who knows after that." The Brumbies will restart their play-off bid when they host the Pretoria Bulls at Canberra Stadium on Friday night. A win will keep them at the top of the Australian conference, but a defeat could see them fall behind the Melbourne Rebels or the NSW Waratahs. The bulk of the Brumbies squad return to Canberra on Tuesday night after spending the past three days in a pre-World Cup camp in Brisbane. The timing of the camp gives the Brumbies just one full training session to prepare for the Bulls. But coach Dan McKellar has been juggling championship ambitions with the need to re-sign key players as rich overseas clubs target the Brumbies' biggest names with post World Cup offers. Sio has agreed to stay at the Brumbies until at least the end of 2022, but David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani are among a group of players yet to make decisions about their respective futures. Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, Rob Valetini, Tom Cusack and Darcy Swain have already signed deals to stay until at least 2021, while James Slipper is expected to take up the second year in his contract and Lachlan McCaffrey is believed to be close to finalising his new deal. The Brumbies hit top form in the five-week block before their last-round bye, winning four of their past five games and creating an imposing record at home by winning the past five in a row in Canberra. The challenge against the Bulls, however, will be to regain momentum and ensure they avoid getting caught in the finals hype. "I think it's exciting times ahead for our group, but we understand what we achieved in the six-week block before the bye means nothing. We really have to build on that and go up another level," Sio said. Sio has formed an imposing loosehead prop combination with Slipper this year with two of Australia's most experienced No. 1s becoming a Brumbies tag-team in the front row. The strength of the Brumbies set piece has been built on the platform laid by an all Wallabies front row, which includes Sio, Alaalatoa, Folau Faingaa and Slipper. SUPER RUGBY ROUND 15 Friday: ACT Brumbies v Pretoria Bulls at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.

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