Several Force players are believed to be on the verge of signing with the Melbourne Rebels, but the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs are also poised to swoop. Naisarani is one of the first to make the move and is a massive addition to the Brumbies' forward pack after he won the Nathan Sharpe Medal in his rookie season. "It has been a pretty hard year because when we weren't playing, everything was about the news we were cut from Super Rugby," Naisarani said. "It's tough for us. We're angry and disappointed but we can't do anything from here. We'll miss each other, but we had to start looking for other opportunities for our future.

"I'm excited to come to Canberra and join the Brumbies, I think it can help me improve my rugby." Naisarani will help ease the Brumbies' back-row headaches after the departure of Jordan Smiler, Jarrad Butler, Scott Fardy and Chris Alcock at the end of last season. Former Wallabies skipper Pocock will return from a 12-month sabbatical and Ben Hyne, Tom Cusack, Lolo Fakaosilea, Lachie McCaffrey and Rob Valetini will also compete for positions. The Brumbies had filled almost every forward spot available on their roster, but the chance to sign 110-kilogram and 195 centimetre Naisarani was too good to pass up. The 22-year-old played every game for the Force in his first Super Rugby season and starred as a big ball-running No. 8.

He was born in Fiji, but has been living in Australia for the past two years and will be eligible to play for the Wallabies at the end of the year. "Playing for the Wallabies has been my goal as soon as I got to Australia. First I wanted to reach Super Rugby, and then play for the Wallabies if I could," Naisarani said. "This year has been a massive learning year for me. I got a lot out of playing with Matt Hodgson and Ben McCalman, every game I played I learnt from them. "I think the hard work paid off. Next year will be another challenge for me, I want to be consistent in every game I play to take my skills and rugby to another level. "David Pocock is my role model ... to be playing alongside him is going to be an amazing experience for me."

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar is hopeful of adding some back-line flair to his squad in the coming weeks, but was excited at the chance to unleash Naisarani in Canberra. "Isi is just a point of difference in terms of our players. He's a big, strong powerful athlete with good skill," McKellar said. "He's got the ability to create something, so I think with the other back-rowers we've already signed will give us some good balance. "We're still looking for backs and we feel we need a couple who are going to create. But Isi was too good to pass up. Loading