While opportunities weren’t huge, rugby was a way of life for Samo and his brothers growing up.

That passion for the game never faded and it was clear for all to see during a stellar career which included Super Rugby premiership glory and 23 Wallabies caps.

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But the love of the game also made retirement difficult for Samo.

“It’s funny that you’re a professional rugby player for nearly 20 years and then there’s a time where you’ve got to hang up the boots,” he said.

“Then you’re sitting at home and you’re watching the game every week and it’s hard after giving up rugby.”

That’s what makes the Classic Wallabies tour so special.

Samo has been part of the program for a number of years and it’s what took him to Macquarie Anglican Grammar School on Thursday to run a clinic with students.

He was joined there by Dubbo product and former Queensland Reds teammate Beau Robinson, the clinic part of a tour which culminates in the Classic Wallabies and Central West Barbarians match at Orange on Saturday.

“That’s all we did, play rugby,” Samo said while watching the children get involved.

“I’ve got three brothers and we’d play rugby in the backyard with plastic bottles because we had no rugby balls.

“It’s in our blood and it’s hard to give it up. So doing this and being involved, it feels like we’re still playing rugby as well.

“That’s good because you give back. Especially these young kids because for me, growing up as a kid this never happened. The former players coming to school didn’t happen but now this is good and I wish I had been an Aussie kid to see a former Wallaby come and train us and do skills like this.

“Whatever we have to do and wherever we have to go, I’ll go to do it because I love it and I love giving back to the kids.”

Samo still plays club rugby while he also trains with players from the Fijian community in his home in Brisbane.

The game gave him plenty so giving back there, or during Classic Wallabies tours is something which fills the former barnstorming ball-runner with great pride.

And while he’s done plenty already, Samo is adamant the game can always do more.

“We’ve been doing this for the last two or three years and we get around to different places and have some fun with kids in the community,” he said.

“I think we should give more. We need to get out and visit the country towns and therte’s a lot of kids who love thier rugby and we need to do more to share experience with them.

“You can give them some belief and help them with what they want to do in rugby and in life.

“This is a start and we need to continue this in other regional areas.”