Injuries and an overseas stint have delayed the milestone but nine years after making his NSW Waratahs debut, hooker Damien Fitzpatrick will finally earn his 50th cap.
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Fitzpatrick will bring up his half-century with the Tahs in the Super Rugby quarter-final against the Highlanders in Sydney on Saturday.
It's been a breakthrough year for the personable 29-year-old, who made his NSW debut in round six, 2009, against the Crusaders.
He's started all 16 Waratahs games this season, holding off strong challenges from Wallabies representative Tolu Latu and also Hugh Roach.
"I've had a lot of injuries in my career so to be able to stick all these games together through a few niggles as well is really nice," Fitzpatrick said.
A former Australian schoolboys and under-20 captain, Fitzpatrick's rugby journey has included three years with French club Lyon.
"I probably had three years here (at NSW) before that where I was suffering through chronic knee injuries, said Fitzpatrick, who returned to NSW midway through 2016.
"To get 50 games for my state, I only ever as a kid dreamed to play one, so to get 50 is incredible."
He missed the 2014 Super title win and the finals campaign the following year but played in a semi-final against the Stormers in Cape Town eight years ago.
"It was a huge game with about 50 to 55,000 and I think I was probably too young to take in the enormity of the situation," he said.
"But I do remember at that stage when you are a younger player, you are literally sitting back and taking orders from some of the other senior guys.
"This year, it's a little bit different, now rugby is so collaborative.
"The coaches and senior players and the whole squad in general really have a bit of a say in the way in you want to play."
Australian Associated Press
