A lack of opportunity recruited ACT Brumbies backrower Jordan Smiler to the French revolution, but the 30-year-old is happy to fill any role – even if that means coming off the bench – to help the Brumbies win the Super Rugby title.
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Smiler was set to join Nevers but Fairfax Media revealed in August he had turned his back on the French second division club to put his family first.
The Brumbies swooped and signed him for the next two seasons, where his versatility will help bolster the Super Rugby province's depth in both the second and back rows.
It means he will again be fighting with Sam Carter, Rory Arnold and Blake Enever for a starting lock position, as well as battling Wallabies blindside flanker Scott Fardy for the No.6 jersey.
Smiler said his younger self would have struggled to deal with potentially getting limited opportunities, but he felt he'd matured over the past two years. He was happy to play wherever Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham wanted him to, whenever he was needed.
Smiler said he was using the NRC to "find some good form", which he wanted to carry over into the 2016 Super Rugby season.
"The more game time the better, but I'm happy to play whatever position, whatever amount of time, as long as I'm contributing in some way and do all I can to help get those wins," he said.
"Initially it was a bit difficult, thinking I should be getting more time ... but I think I've matured over the last couple of years and improved my game, and just knowing that there's a bigger picture.
"At the end of the day we're all one team and we have one goal – and that's to win the Super Rugby championship."
It's that selflessness that kept him in Canberra in the first place, willing to give up his professional rugby career to be closer to his sick father, who lives in New Zealand, and to remain in the ACT for the good of his young son Keanu, who was born with club foot.
He knew that decision meant once the Canberra Vikings' season in the National Rugby Championship was done it could also mean the end of his career.
But he was thankful the Brumbies re-signed him.
"It wasn't expected at all, all I knew was there was potentially an opportunity, but there was never a solid, 'Yep, we're going to take you'," Smiler said.
"But like I've said before, they were happy to have me from the beginning and it was just lucky there was an opportunity to stay.
"I'm very thankful for them for taking me on for another couple of years."
Smiler will switch to blindside flanker for the undefeated Vikings' clash with the third-placed Sydney Stars at Viking Park on Thursday night.
The Vikings will be bolstered by the return of Wallabies Ben Alexander and Christian Lealiifano, as well as Brumbies lock Rory Arnold.
NRC ROUND 5
Thursday: Canberra Vikings v Sydney Stars at Viking Park, 7.30pm.
Vikings team: 1. Allan Alaalatoa, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Blake Enever, 6. Jordan Smiler, 7. Jarrad Butler (c), 8. Ita Vaea, 9. Joe Powell, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Lausii Taliauli, 12. Rodney Iona, 13. Nigel Ah Wong, 14. James Dargaville, 15. Isaac Thompson. Reserves: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Sione Taula, 18. Leslie Leulua'iali'i-Makin, 19. Dean Oakman-Hunt, 20. Rowan Perry, 21. Brent Hamlin, 22. Mitch Third, 23. Frankie Fainifo.
