Brumbies centre Kadin Pritchard has left the door open to a potential NRL switch to the PNG Chiefs, but says he and his brother Treyvon have plenty of unfinished business in rugby.
After playing a key role in defeating the Waratahs in Sydney, Pritchard said representing the Wallabies alongside Treyvon, who plays for the Reds, was a dream that he is determined to achieve.
The brothers are contracted to Super Rugby until the end of the 2027 season, with Kadin saying it remains his focus, regardless of meeting the PNG Chiefs in Brisbane last Tuesday.
“Obviously, the Wallabies is the end goal, that’s the international stage. I think everyone strives for that, if you’re not striving for that, then why are you really playing?
“Obviously, the chance to play with my brother, I think that would be a super special moment. He’s doing his thing, and I’m doing my thing and potentially, hopefully, that dream can come true. It’s something we’ve talked about as kids growing up.”
Pritchard has started 12 games at outside centre for the Brumbies. Treyvon will start his second game of the season for the Reds on Saturday against Moana Pasifika in New Zealand.
“I think we’ve still got the season ahead of us, and my focus is rugby at the moment, and then trying to pull the Brums over the line here, and whatever happens in the future happens in the future,” Pritchard said.
“Potentially, I’m open to trying stuff (in the NRL), but like I said, my focus is rugby as long as I’m contracted, which is also next year. So my focus is just sticking to rugby union and trying to be the best that I can be on the field for the Brumbies.”
Pritchard refers to his brother as “probably my best mate” and revealed that, growing up, Treyvon pretended to be New Zealand Test star Damian McKenzie while he idolised his All Blacks teammate Will Jordan in backyard games at home in Brisbane.
Both the Brumbies and the Reds are on course for Super Rugby finals, and while the Pritchard brothers rarely discuss rugby together, it’s a different story for their parents, Dan and Brenda.
“We have the split jerseys there at home, so they try and not choose a side, I think. Mum’s pretty funny, she goes for the winning team, whoever’s winning,” Pritchard said.
“And then she said, ‘Oh, I’m not a Brumbies fan any more’ and then goes for Reds, but then we won this week. So she texted me, ‘oh, I’m back on the Brumbies’ bandwagon again’. So then whoever’s doing well, the parents just blow through and obviously give us positive reinforcement.”
Pritchard also credits his parents for helping him and his brother deal with the intense scrutiny that has been focused on them as two of rugby’s premier young talents.
“Mum and Dad kind of instilled in us just to be grateful for the opportunities that we’ve been given, knowing that at any time it can be taken away,” Pritchard said.
“We’ve been taught to be grounded and be humble and knowing that God has given us an opportunity, so we need to take it with both hands, but at the same time, like, it’s not there forever and it can be taken away at any minute.”
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