Nick Frisby spent four bench-ridden years of frustration behind veteran Australia scrumhalf Will Genia at the Queensland Reds, so he can hardly believe he now finds himself poised to win his debut Wallabies cap against England.
Frisby was named in Michael Cheika’s squad for the three-match series and is likely to back up experienced starter Nick Phipps in the match-day 23 for the opening game in Brisbane on Saturday.
Since Genia’s departure for French club Stade Francais after the World Cup, Frisby has made the Reds’ number nine shirt his own and beat out Melbourne Rebels’ Nic Stirzaker to be the Wallabies’ second scrumhalf.
“It’s hard to believe really,” the 23-year-old told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.
“It took me a while to sink in last week that I was out there training with some of these guys I’ve watched play for years and looked up to.
“It’s been a really pleasing year for me, I’ve hit some good form. I’ll get stuck in again this week and see where it takes me.”
Luck has helped Frisby land safely, with Genia omitted from the squad as he recovers from knee surgery earlier in the year.
A paucity of other rivals has also played a part, with capped Wallaby Nic White also leaving to play in France, rendering him ineligible for selection as he lacks the minimum 60 caps for overseas-based players to be considered.
Two of Australia’s five Super Rugby teams are using foreign players as their starting scrumhalves, with the Canberra-based ACT Brumbies recruiting Argentine Tomas Cubelli and Perth’s Western Force playing former All Black Alby Mathewson.
For a nation that produced the likes of Nick Farr-Jones and George Gregan, the modest stock of elite scrumhalves is concerning.
"Halfback is a specialist position. The ARU (Australian Rugby Union) needs to ensure there is a development pathway at Super Rugby level for future Wallabies number nines," former Australia flyhalf Mark Ella wrote in the Australian.
“There has to be a limit on the recruitment of foreign players in specialist positions.”
Frisby is unlikely to feel too comfortable about having made the grade, with Genia’s pedigree hard to overlook if he can prove his fitness in time for the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship which starts in August.
Having studied in the little master’s footsteps, Frisby may hope to employ Genia’s wisdom to keep him out of the squad.
"I feel very fortunate to have spent just about every day for four seasons following in Willy's footsteps," Frisby told Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper on Saturday.
“One of the best things he always stressed was to play your own game, no matter the game or situation, and that mentality is very important.”
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Muguruza's singles career in stats
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)
Wins / losses 293 / 149
More coverage from the Future Forum
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
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His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
