Brumbies veteran Josh Mann-Rea is proof that living in the country does not have to be a disadvantage.
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The 38-year-old equalled the record earlier this season for the oldest Australian Super Rugby player.
And he did so, residing in Harden.
Mann-Rea, one of rugby's greatest comeback stories, originally lived in Canberra after being signed by the Brumbies before deciding on a change.
He and his wife and their young family spend 12 months in Jugiong, before buying a place in Harden, where they have spent the past two years.
Mann-Rea frequents the 125 kilometre trip to Canberra to train with the Brumbies but it's a drive he does not mind if it allows him to live in the bush.
"I drive in every day. it's good," he said.
"It's a fairly easy drive, it's not too bad. It's about an hour and 20, an hour and a half, depending whether you get stuck behind a grain truck or not.
"I grew up in the country and my wife is from the Southern Highlands, so sort of rural. We were in Canberra for a while, which was a nice place but we wanted to get the girls out into the country. It's good, small communities we like."
The Southern Inland gala days are nothing new to Mann-Rea. His daughter played for Cootamundra last season.
He loves the gala days.
"These gala days are great, having the whole Southern Inland together, it's amazing having all these kids, boys and girls, it's a bit of a no brainer to get out here," he said.
"Having all the kids in Southern Inland in the one spot for the day is bloody amazing. The boys love getting out and seeing them all."
Mann-Rea, who played two Tests for the Wallabies, believes rugby is in great shape in Southern Inland.
"I think it's strong here in Southern Inland. You see 1000 kids all in the one spot here, it's amazing," he said.
"It's up to us to keep interacting, getting out to as many gala days as we can, if it's possible."
As for the Brumbies' prospects, Mann-Rea is not looking too far ahead.
"We've been a bit up and down," he said.
"We've got a tough one this weekend against Crusaders over there. It's their first game back since the shooting so it will be an emotional weekend for them but it puts up a good challenge for us."
