The Western Force have re-signed former All Blacks scrumhalf Alby Mathewson for the next two Super Rugby seasons.

Mathewson arrived at the Force as their international marquee last season and under normal circumstances he would have only been allowed to stay for a maximum of two years so as to not stifle the development of local players.

But the Force received special dispensation from the Australian Rugby Union to extend the 28-year-old’s stay beyond the initial two-year deal.

The four-Test All Black, who previously played for the Hurricanes and Blues, said he and his partner were keen to stay in Perth.

“We love it here and I never wanted to leave,” Mathewson.

“While there was interest from elsewhere, I was always holding out hope that it would work out this way and I’d stay.”

Mathewson is currently nursing a serious ankle injury that will keep him out of action until next month.

The Force are also hopeful of re-signing South African flyhalf Sias Ebersohn, who is one of the franchise’s development foreign players.

The Force sit in seventh spot ahead of Saturday night’s clash with the Lions in Perth.