The son of former Wallabies hardman Michael Brial is stamping his mark on New Zealand rugby and could soon be knocking on the door for selection of the All Blacks - or the Wallabies.
Joe Brial has already played for New Zealand U20 and is part of the Crusaders Academy. He's eligible for both nations at test level - so where do his allegiances lie?
Since shifting across the Tasman in 2020, Brial hasn't had too many issues adjusting to New Zealand playing conditions, as the hard-running No.8 chases his rugby dreams.
His father made his mark on the test stage in infamous fashion, when he unleashed a barrage of punches on All Blacks centre Frank Bunce during a Tri-Nations test at Brisbane in 1996.
The attack was revenge for a reckless cleanout by Bunce at a ruck during an All Blacks match against New South Wales in 1992 that left Brial injured.
Incredibly, Brial only copped a penalty, but his son has found the incident harder to escape.
"It does come up a fair bit in conversation about my dad," Brial confessed to Newshub. "It sometimes gets a bit tiring, but it is what it is."
These days, his dad is handing out advice rather than uppercuts.
"He offers a lot of support," Brial added. "He was never really pushy into me playing rugby or anything."
Brial, 21, is now well down to the track to replicating his father's feats by earning test selection. He spent this year as a training partner with the Crusaders and played Canterbury at National Provincial Championship level.
"I've been over here for three or four years now and loving it."
So, does Brial consider himself a Kiwi now?
"You could say that," he laughed, but he isn't quite yet ready to lock in his nation of choice - at least, publicly
"I'd better keep that to myself," he joked.
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