Re-signed ACT Brumbies lock Nick Frost is relieved to have contract negotiations behind him, mostly so his teammates will stop nagging him about it.
The Wallabies regular joined Queensland Reds and Test hooker Matt Faessler in announcing a two-year contract extension on Thursday that will keep them both on the books until after the 2027 home World Cup.
Frost had been set to depart for Japan in 2022 before aborting those plans, remaining at the Brumbies and quickly establishing himself in the Test arena.
The 25-Test talent and reliable hooker Faessler join second-rowers Jeremy Williams and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto as newly-re-signed Wallabies pieces.
Captain and Reds No.8 Harry Wilson has also re-committed this season while his backrow partner in Brisbane, Fraser McReight, is also understood to be close to finalising a new deal.
Frost laughed that the barbs from teammates nagging him to re-sign would finally stop now, the loudest coming from star fullback Tom Wright, who is ironically also off contract beyond this year.
"He's the main culprit; always keeps hammering me but he's got his own stuff to sort, waiting for him to sign on and join all the boys," Frost laughed.
"It's always good to get your future sorted and enjoy it as well ... when the off-field stuff's all done you can probably enjoy yourself more on the field."
Australia's flagship team have reason to smile, adding the defending champion Blues to their list of scalps in a 21-20 Eden Park win last Friday that snapped a 12-year drought at the venue.
They'll host Fijian Drua this Friday, the visitors fresh off one of their most famous wins - beating the Chiefs 28-24 - in their short history.
The Brumbies became the first Australian team to beat the Drua in Fiji in the opening round, pinching victory 36-32.
"We saw a tough game in round one and again last week, we know how hard the Chiefs were to beat and they beat them there on their home turf," Frost said.
"There's no other team like them in the world.
"It's good for the game, but it's always physical against them."
First-choice Test flyhalf Noah Lolesio will return after a three-game absence due to concussion, while Billy Pollard and Ryan Lonergan will start at hooker and scrumhalf respectively.
"We know that the Drua are going to come here and present an enormous challenge, particularly off the back of their impressive win last weekend," Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham said.
"They are extremely physical and play some exciting rugby with ball in hand.
"We'll need to be at our very best right the way through to the final whistle."
