The ‘big impact’ Will Skelton had on giant Brumbies recruit’s career

ACT Brumbies recruit Aiden Stait has opened up on the “big impact” La Rochelle-based Wallaby Will Skelton had on his career, having convinced the young lock to initially pursue an opportunity with French club Bayonne.

Stait has returned to Australia after spending a few years in Basque Country with the Top 14 club, having signed a deal with the Brumbies through to the end of 2029. The six-foot-eight second-rower has joined the club ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby AUS campaign.

In an interview with RugbyPass in 2023, Stait opened up about the opportunity to travel the world and take part in the pro French rugby system. The Bathurst-born talent spent invaluable time abroad but sees a return home with the Brums an important next step.

At just 22, Stait had already had the chance to live abroad and is now primed for a massive few years ahead with a Super Rugby Pacific side. It’s a journey that was influenced by Wallabies lock Skelton, who has spent time abroad with Saracens and La Rochelle.

“He was unreal,” Stait told reporters this week.

“He really gave me the pros and cons and said, ‘Mate, I love it, so I reckon you will too.’

“He made a really big impact on the decision and a few others too like Chris Talakai and Reece Hodge and a few of those boys.”

Stait was initially a rugby league player through and through, spending time within the St George Illawarra Dragons’ SG Ball environment. But an opportunity with the NSW Waratahs Academy beckoned, which led to the golden opportunity with Bayonne.

It’s a mighty move to make as a teenager, making a life-changing move abroad, but it’s one that Stait seems to clearly have no regrets over. The Bayonne prospect cried when he first saw the Eiffel Tower, “because it’s the stuff you see on movies and social media.”

The tight five forward, who stands at six-foot-eight and weighs around 130 kilograms, never got the chance to play minutes int the Top 14 but still took plenty out of the experience. But still, being back Down Under the Brums seemed like another crucial next step.

“Development-wise, I just think it was better to come back here,” Stait explained.

“I had a few really good chats with [Cameron Treloar] and Benny Mowen and [Stephen] Larkham and a few of the other coaching staff.

“They asked what I wanted and I asked what they wanted and we saw a future together.

“I really think for my game it was better to be here than anywhere else.”

Wallabies great Stephen Larkham continues to lead a coaching group that also includes former Australia captain Ben Mowen. Capped Wallabies Nick Frost and Lachlan Shaw are among the others challenging for spots in the second row.

“Doing a lot with ‘Fruit’ [Frost] at the moment with body height. Being six foot eight, it’s not really the easiest thing to get down so low. Really working on that,” he explained.

“With Benny, my set-piece too, working on my lineouts. I’ve never really been a jumper or anything like that lineout-wise so really working on the scrums, the mauls and the lineouts and grow that aspect of my game.”