Super 14
Palu boosts Wallabies with new deal
Scrum.com
April 9, 2010
The Waratahs' Wycliff Palu stretches the Sharks' defence, Waratahs v Sharks, Super 14, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, March 6, 2010
Wycliff Palu will remain a Waratah © Getty Images
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Wallabies No.8 Wycliff Palu has ended speculation about his playing future by signing a new deal with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and the Waratahs until after the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

The news will come as a boost to Australia coach Robbie Deans as he builds towards the tournament, with Palu currently an integral ball-carrier in their back-row.

There had been speculation that he would head overseas or cross codes once his contract expired but instead the 36-times capped back-rower confirmed his intentions to stay in New South Wales before boarding a flight to Christchurch for the Tahs' vital Super 14 meeting with the Crusaders on Saturday.

"You try not to think about it too much, but whenever you're negotiating you need to spend time focusing on that as well as football," he said.. "Now that it's done, I can concentrate 100% on finishing the season strongly for the Tahs and I'm looking forward to getting back on the field against the Crusaders.

"It's pretty nice that there was a lot of interest out there, but in saying that it probably slows you down from making a final decision which is why it's taken a little while to sort out all the details. At the end of the day the main decision was whether or not I'd stay in Australia, and once that was settled I knew I wanted to stay at NSW. We've got a great group of guys here, a really successful culture and I love being a part of that and hopefully making a positive contribution to that as well."

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