Injured Wallabies hooker Stephen Moore has given Australian rugby a much-needed boost by re-signing with the ARU and the Brumbies until the end of 2016.
With 92 Tests and 131 Super Rugby games already to his name, another two seasons in Australia could see Moore’s total number of caps rival the nation’s most experienced greats – George Gregan, George Smith and Nathan Sharpe.
It also locks him in for his third Rugby World Cup, kicking off in England in September next year.
The Brumbies rake has endured extreme frustration this year.
He was promoted to the Wallabies captaincy by recently departed coach Ewen McKenzie for the first Test of 2014 against France in June only to suffer a season-ending knee injury just five minutes into the match.
The Wallabies have struggled both on and off the field in his absence, and his re-signing will come as a huge relief to the embattled ARU.
It comes just one week after McKenzie’s shock resignation – the result of an extraordinary fallout from the Kurtley Beale-Di Patston texting scandal.
His re-signing will serve as a big step towards the Wallabies getting back on track under new coach Michael Cheika for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Moore admitted on Monday that he had turned down options to move overseas.
“With a young family I thought the best option was to stay in Canberra,” he said in a statement.
“For me to have another year in Australian rugby is exciting and invigorating.”
Moore added that he believed the Brumbies were heading in the right direction under new head coach Stephen Larkham.
“I believe the Brumbies are working towards more success and it’s nice to be given an opportunity to be a part of that until at least the end of 2016,” he said.
Larkham has previously indicated Moore will take over from departed skipper Ben Mowen as Brumbies captain in 2015.
Whether he has a Wallabies leadership role under Cheika remains to be seen.
STAYING ON FOR TWO MOORE YEARS
Stephen Moore
* Position: Hooker
* Height/weight: 186cm/112kg
* Super Rugby Caps: 131
* Super Rugby Debut: 2003 v Bulls, Pretoria (Reds)
* Test Caps: 92
* Test Debut: 2003 v Samoa, Sydney
