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Australia hooker Stephen Moore has rejected a lucrative offer from French rugby to re-sign with the Australian Rugby Union.
The new deal will see the 28-year-old remain with the Wallabies and Brumbies until the end of the 2013 season. Moore had been strongly linked with a move to French club Racing Metro, with some reports suggesting the 55-Test veteran had already committed to leave the Wallabies.
"When I weighed it all up, it wasn't a hard decision," Moore said. "There is still a lot I want to achieve in Australian Rugby, both with the Wallabies and here at the Brumbies."
He added: "There was also the lifestyle factor to consider. Once we looked at everything, my fiancee Courtney and I came to the decision that Australia is where we want to be."
Moore admitted the chance to play against the British and Irish Lions in 2013 played a role in his decision, but said the progress shown by the young Wallabies side last season was the major factor.
"The team is making great strides. We saw that in the results that were achieved last year, especially in the back half in the games against the Springboks, All Blacks and France," Moore said.
"It's an exciting time to be involved, not just because of the results that have been achieved, but the style of rugby that is being played.
"It's entertaining to watch and enjoyable to play. There's still a lot of improvement left in the side and I didn't want to be in the position after this year where I was looking from afar feeling disappointed that I was missing out on being a part of it."
Moore also urged his team-mates to think twice before accepting lucrative offers from northern hemisphere clubs. Several high profile Wallabies including Matt Giteau, Berrick Barnes, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell and Luke Burgess are reportedly considering heading overseas after the World Cup.
"We've worked hard to get into the position that we have, in terms of the growth of the Wallabies as a team and, while there is more hard work to come, we are seeing the possibilities that are there," he said. "Hopefully we can stick together as a group. If we can, there is a lot that we can achieve."
