'I won't cry': Beaming mum's beautiful post-match interview as sparky downs tools on Mother's Day
Chris Mickelson had a pretty good excuse for downing tools on Sunday.
The Canberra sparky lived out his childhood dream on Saturday night when he took the field to make his ACT Brumbies debut.
Not done there, the versatile young forward powered over for a match-sealing try against the Western Force then shared a heartwarming post-game interview with his mother Vikki.
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Michael Hooper interviews Chris and Vicky Mickelson. Stan
"I hung up the tools this pre-season when I came in fulltime. But I still do a cash job here and there - I've even got one tomorrow," Mickelson told reporters after the crucial 32-15 win.
"But I think I'm going to can that."
Mickelson is Canberra rugby through and through.
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Mum - then Vikki Fischer - played for the Wallaroos and has been a trailblazer for the women's game in the nation's capital.
The 23-year-old Mickelson won the 2025 MacDougall Medal as the best player in the ACT's John I Dent Cup after leading the Uni-Norths Owls to the club's first premiership since mergers in 1998 and 2001.
Primarily a hooker, Mickelson eventually got his opportunity in the Brumbies backrow against the Force.
Chris Mickelson celebrates his try. Stan
He celebrated his try with his club's owl hand signal as he looked toward his friends and family in the crowd.
"It was incredible tonight," an emotional Vikki told Stan Sport's Michael Hooper.
"Chris, I'm so proud. The hard work that has gone into your career. From age three - he used to come to training with me with his bigger brother, and it's incredible. This is real grassroots from three-years-old, right through to Brumbies.
Michael Hooper interviews Chris and Vicky Mickelson. Stan
"I am so proud. I won't cry on camera, I won't cry on camera."
Vikki agreed Chris had delivered the ideal early Mother's Day gift.
"That's absolutely right, but an incredible village from my entire family, the rugby club, the Uni-Norths Owls. This is true rugby grassroots, all the way to the top and I'm so proud of you," she said.
Chris Mickelson of the Brumbies celebrates scoring a try with team mates. Getty
Mickelson helped the Brumbies snap a three-game losing streak at GIO Stadium and put their Super Rugby finals plans back on track.
"I grew up watching from those stands with mum and dad, smashing hot chips in the cold weather," Mickelson said.
"I just love my footy. And I suppose if he (younger self) knew that I was out there today, it would be a super special feeling."
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham couldn't speak highly enough of his young charge.
"We know he's a very powerful ball carrier, a very good rugby player. He actually scored two tries in training on Thursday as well," Larkham said.
"It's great to see the local guys come through and stand out on this stage. He's a bit of a fan favourite within the group. He trains exceptionally well, puts everything on the line for the boys and tries to prep everyone else during the week.
"He was thrown into the deep end - he has trained at seven (openside flanker) in the opposition but we had a bit of a walk through on Monday and then trained on Tuesday and he was all over the place in terms of his role. But he got there by the end of the week.
"What we know is he's a great player so you just put him in a bit of space and he's very good at getting over the line."
The fifth-placed Brumbies have the bye this weekend before finishing the regular season with games against the NSW Waratahs and Moana Pasifika.
