Incumbent Wallabies halfback Nick Phipps has no intention of joining his major rivals for a World Cup spot on the European rugby gravy train and wants to stay in Australia for the long term.

It was reported on Tuesday that Australia’s most experienced Test halfback, Will Genia, was believed to have signed a three-year deal with French club Stade Francais, starting after the World Cup.

Also heading to France after that tournament to join Montpelier is Brumbies halfback Nic White, who was the main rival to Phipps during the Wallabies 2014 campaign.

Happily staying put in Australia is 26-year-old Sydney-born Phipps, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, when he returned to the Waratahs after three seasons with Melbourne Rebels.

Phipps was a prominent part of the NSW Super Rugby title-winning team and played in all 14 Tests last year, doubling his tally of caps to 28.

He started the last nine Tests, after coming off the bench behind White in the first five.

Phipps signed a two-year contract extension with Australia and NSW in the final week of 2014, tying himself to those teams to the end of the 2017 season.

“I’m very happy with the position I’m in at the moment,” Phipps told AAP on Tuesday.

“I love NSW and I feel I was playing some of my best footy last year, just because I’m back home around my parents and my family and friends from school and uni.

“For me it was a no-brainer.

“I want to stay here. I’ve worked so hard to get into the position I am now why would I go off overseas when there’s still a lot here to complete?

“It’s not like I’ve done anything in the game yet that I can really hang my hat on.

“I just want to be around and working hard at getting Australia back to that top position in the world and NSW back where they belong and try to be a part of it all in the long term.”

Phipps felt both he and NSW would need to improve greatly.

“I don’t think you can be comfortable with what happened last year, and sit back on your heels about that,” Phipps said.

“The improvement that we’re going to need as a team in the `Tahs just to be competing again and improvement in my game that I’m going to need, is pretty astronomical at the moment.”

Phipps is set to make his first pre-season appearance in the Waratahs final trial on Friday against the Chiefs.