Big Fiji-born No.8 Radike Samo capped an outstanding season with a return to the Wallaby squad after an absence of seven years, and the 35-year-old is hungry to make an impact on the international stage.

Samo won his first Super Rugby title with the Brumbies in 2001 and went on to win six Test caps for Australia in 2004, but the Reds loose forward found the form of his life this season after being plucked from the obscurity of Sydney club rugby by Reds coach Ewan McKenzie last year.

His astounding revival was rewarded with a place in Wallaby coach Robbie Deans' Tri-Nations squad and many are tipping the combative loose forward to fill the void left by the injured Wycliff Palu at the back of the Australian scrum.

Samo puts his remarkable resurgence in his mid-thirties down to the influence of his teammates at the Reds and a decision to stop drinking alcohol after the death of his father in February last year.

"A lot of people think I'm old but it's only a number and these guys make it easy for me," he told AAP during the Reds' victory parade celebrations on Monday.

"The Fijian culture says you have to do it (abstain) for three months and I decided to not to drink and now have given up which has been good for me this season. I've been performing well during training and during the games so I think that's the difference, that's made it easier for me," he added.

Samo has formed a good understanding with star scrumhalf Will Genia this season and the two enjoy a good relationship off the field as well with teammates playfully nicknaming the diminuitive backline general 'Rusi', which is the name of Samo's nine-year-old son.

Samo explained: "He is pretty much the same height and everyone calls him (Will) Rusi. In December he grew a bit of hair and because my son had an afro they started calling him Rusi. Will ended up cutting his hair, but the boys still call him Rusi."