Aspiring Wallaby reveals one-of-a-kind passion

Since joining the Canberra-based Brumbies, the prop has developed a unique and unexpected passion: fostering wombats.

Best known for his role on the field, including playing against the British and Irish Lions last summer for his club, van Nek has quietly built a connection with Australia’s native wildlife.

“We fostered a wombat, Willow, who's currently released. We fostered her for about four months.”

What began as curiosity soon turned into something much deeper, shaping how he spends his time away from rugby.

The interest started for the Queensland native shortly after relocating from Melbourne, when he joined the Brumbies from the now-defunct Rebels.

“When we first moved to Canberra we went for a drive to the coast, as everyone does, and we saw wombat after wombat and where we're from in Queensland you don't see wombats at all. It sparked a curiosity in my partner and I and she found Wombat Rescue running a course.”

That moment led to hands-on involvement with Wombat Rescue, an organisation dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating the animals.

Van Nek has since used his platform to shine a light on their work, and Wombat Rescue brought some wombats into Brumbies training this week to help with that.

“Just raise awareness for Wombat Rescue and give them the praise that they deserve. I've never seen an organisation with such passion from the volunteers.

"Over the last 48 hours, they had found a mum who had passed away and knew that there was a baby involved and they staked out in the bush for 16 hours waiting for the baby to come back.”

His unusual hobby has even crossed into team life. “The closest we've got is we did a Pilates session, me and Blake [Schoupp], and I had Blake holding Willow when she was very young.”

Van Nek also sees humour in the connection, given their similarities with props in terms of how they look. “They're short, stocky. I couldn't find another animal that looks more like me if I tried, maybe a bit more hair on the top of my head would have been nice.”

Beyond the novelty, fostering has become a vital mental outlet. “You've got to find ways about getting your mind out of footy and this is a very unique way of doing that.”