Australia
Stephen Moore commits to Wallabies to 2019 Rugby World Cup
AAP
December 18, 2015
Stephen Moore © Christopher Lee/Getty Images for Barbarians

Stephen Moore has set his sights on another shot at Rugby World Cup glory after signing a new contract with the Australian Rugby Union until the end of 2019.

The Wallabies hooker's new three-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union commences in 2017, when he will return from the Brumbies to his home state to play Super Rugby with Queensland Reds.

The 32-year-old was the first hooker to captain the Wallabies at a Rugby World Cup, playing his 100th Test and leading the team to the final.

Moore, who will make his 150th Super Rugby appearance in his next match, said the Wallabies "are building something special" under coach Michael Cheika and "there's a lot more that we want to achieve and I really wanted to be a part of that".

"As a team we set some goals for the year and despite falling short in the World Cup final we achieved a lot of those goals and it was one of the most enjoyable seasons that I've had in my career."

Moore acknowledged that he would be 36 at the next World Cup in Japan but he said that he would "love the opportunity to play" subject to form and fitness "and if I'm the right fit for the team when the time comes".

"It's extremely rare for a player to play in four World Cups and I'm under no illusions that it's going to happen for me without a lot of those factors working in my favour," he said.

Moore, meanwhile, said that he had decided to return to Queensland to be closer to family.

He said he "felt the timing was right after what will be our eighth year in Canberra".

"Queensland is where I started my career and from a distance, it seems like the Reds are building a strong program, which I'm looking forward to being a part of from 2017. I'm really excited about the year ahead with the Brumbies and the Wallabies. We've made the finals the past three years at the Brumbies but we want that championship. It would give the game a massive lift in Canberra."

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said that he had "almost run out of superlatives to describe Stephen Moore and the role that he's played in transforming the Wallabies".

"He has proven himself as an exceptional leader on the field and is a class individual who personifies the values of our game in the way he conducts himself outside of the game. By committing to Australian Rugby until 2019 Stephen has shown great faith in the Wallabies program and belief in the direction the game is heading in Australia. It's a wonderful result for our game."

© AAP

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