Controversial forward Scott Fava has joined the NSW Waratahs after the Western Force granted him an early release from his Super 14 contract on compassionate grounds.

Fava was contracted to the Force until the end of 2009 but asked for an early release so he could return to Sydney to be closer to his family.

The 32-year-old will become the first player ever to be capped by all four Australian Super 14 sides after starting his career in 1999 with Queensland before linking with the Brumbies and then the Force.

The backrower, who has five Test caps and 85 Super rugby caps, was a foundation member and scored their first ever Super try, but endured a turbulent time during his three years with the WA

franchise.

He was twice disciplined for exceeding the Force's alcohol limit but his most serious transgression came during a team-bonding session on Rottnest Island last November.

Fava, 32, was fined $11,000, stripped of his leadership duties and put on a final warning when he was found guilty of mishandling quokkas, allegedly throwing one of the marsupials by the tail.

He put the controversy behind him with a standout 2008 campaign where he was one of the team's best forwards.

Despite his performance, Fava was expected to struggle for a starting berth in 2009 following Richard Brown's emergence as an international-standard No.8.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said Fava would add much-needed experience to the backrow following the departure of David Lyons and Rocky Elsom.

"We've lost more than 160 Super Rugby caps and over 80 Test caps with Rocky and David heading overseas, so to be in a position to secure someone like Scott is fantastic for the Waratahs," Hickey

said.

"He's a seasoned campaigner, he's excited to be

coming back to New South Wales and I know he'll be a great mentor to some of the young backrowers within the organisation."

Fava, who played under Hickey at Sydney club Eastwood, said he was excited about the opportunity of a two year deal at the Waratahs.

"I wanted to come back to Sydney and fortunately everything has fallen into place for me," he said.

"The Force were really understanding in granting me a release from my final year there and luckily there was an opening in the squad at the Waratahs which is going to be really exciting for me."

Fava will join the NSW squad in November following the team's development tour of Fiji.

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