Archer Holz reckons the drive is about seven and a half, maybe eight hours.
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It starts in the northwest NSW town of Brewarrina, where the emerging ACT Brumbies prop's parents Dianne and Russell clock off work at about three o'clock on a Friday afternoon.
They load a couple of bags into the boot of the car and hit the road, driving until midnight before arriving in Canberra.
On Saturday morning they wake up with one thing in mind - their son's John I Dent Cup debut, for the Canberra Royals against the Uni-Norths Owls at ANU North Oval.
The next morning they head home, bleary-eyed and ready to head back to the mines or to pick up the tools.
MORE RUGBY UNION
"And then working all week just so they can do it again on the weekend," Holz said.
Some weeks they spend in the mines at Lightning Ridge. You see, Russell is an opal miner, Dianne cuts opal and makes jewellery. But "some weeks you find, some weeks you don't".
"So dad is also an electrician and plumber by trade," Holz said.
"They've started their own little contracting business in northwestern NSW, servicing the region down there within a 300km radius, doing service maintenance and other construction stuff. They run that business together.
"I'm in such a fortunate situation as a footy player, it's so tough but I'm living the dream. They're slogging away and doing it all for me.
"That's something I can look at and think if they're willing to do that for me, it really motivates me to work harder. I'm so thankful."
Holz will line up at tighthead prop for Royals in his ACT club rugby debut, having moved to Canberra to link up with the Brumbies on a Super Rugby contract.
Fringe Brumbies were kept out of club football for the bulk of 2020 due to Rugby Australia's biosecurity measures but a host will be on show this weekend with Holz lining up against Uni-Norths hooker Billy Pollard.
Tuggeranong duo Rodney Iona, who is training with the Brumbies, and Tom Hooper are on a collision course with Queanbeyan pairing Reece Tapine and Sefo Kautai.
Solomone Kata lines up at inside centre for Gungahlin against Wests trio Luke Reimer, Lachie Albert, and Harry Lloyd.
Holz is yearning for another taste of Super Rugby AU after the 21-year-old was catapulted into the squad for a top of the table clash with the Queensland Reds last month. There he filled the void for Allan Alaalatoa - a club captain and Wallaby - and Tom Ross.
So what is Royals coach Wayne Southwell getting in the youngster who rose from Sydney colts to Super Rugby AU in 10 months?
He's getting a kid who played Shute Shield games with broken ribs, a kid who refused to get scans because he knew it would keep him from playing on a Saturday.
A promising talent with maturity beyond his years, a Kings School graduate who left home at nine years old to go to boarding school.
"I was there for 10 years, then I went straight to uni and starting playing footy. It was more than half my life. I'm a country boy but spent a lot of time in the city. I loved it," Holz said.
"I've got so many mates in Sydney, grandparents and other family in Sydney. It was a perfect situation for me. Mum and dad were always there, I never went more than a month without seeing them.
"I'm so lucky, I was away from home living such a great life, being able to play footy and go to school.
"Mum and dad were still always there. It was pretty tough going away that young, but it seemed to work out alright so I'm glad it happened."
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND ONE
Saturday: Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals at ANU North Oval; Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites at Viking Park; Gungahlin Eagles v Wests Lions at Nicholls Enclosed Oval. All games at 3.05pm.
ACT WOMEN'S PREMIER XVs
Saturday: Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites at Viking Park, 1.20pm; Uni-Norths Owls v Canberra Royals at ANU North Oval, 1.40pm. Goulburn bye.
Caden Helmers
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
Caden Helmers is a sports writer for The Canberra Times.
