ACT Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White dreaming of a White Christmas

She's already running around after her one-year-old Sonny and three-year-old Leo, and now they've got another boy on the way in March.

"She's got four boys, she'll say," White laughed.

So a White family Christmas is "only going to get bigger", but the ACT Brumbies and Wallabies scrumhalf wouldn't have it any other way.

Because now he knows how special these moments are after spending countless days on the road this year.

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"It was a pretty tough year this year, obviously with me being away a fair bit and with borders closing, not being able to have family about," White said.

A Super Rugby AU competition took White all over the country before the Brumbies bunkered down in New Zealand for three weeks to open their Trans-Tasman campaign.

Then came Wallabies road trips from Brisbane to Melbourne and back, Bledisloe Cup Tests across the Tasman and a Rugby Championship campaign in Queensland.

Three Tests in the UK during Wallabies' Spring Tour would follow before White stayed for an extra week in the hope of making a Barbarians debut that would never come after the match was cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off after COVID-19 infiltrated the Baa Baas camp.

So when Melissa's father finds lizards or turtles for Sonny and Leo to feed and farewell, you can bet White won't take those moments for granted.

"You don't really understand how important it is until you get taken away from them. I love my rugby, I'm very grateful for what I do and the time away is just part of the job," White said.

"These little opportunities when you get a break comes at a time over Christmas which is pretty special. Overseas you don't really get that as well. I was over there playing sometimes on Christmas eve and things like that.

"To have your break coincide with Christmas and family time is pretty special. It's not until you have kids you realise how special it is, especially this year the way things were shaping up.

"We're very lucky to be home with family and everyone is going okay."

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