Liam Gill is in career-best form with Queensland Reds © Getty Images

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Liam Gill has boosted Queensland Reds ahead of their final Super Rugby match of the season, their 300th fixture against New South Wales Waratahs, signing a one-year contract extension to remain with the franchise for 2016.

Gill, 23, had been the subject of reports linking him with a move to Melbourne Rebels, but he said in a statement released by the Reds that he had "a lot of pride in the Reds jersey and that passion for Queensland played a big part in me staying". He said that Queensland had been "huge in my development and I didn't want to walk out on the club".

Gill made his Queensland and Super Rugby debut in 2011, since when he was won 64 Reds caps and made 15 Test appearances for Australia. He has been in career-best form in 2015, featuring in all but one of the Reds' matches and leading the competition for turnovers forced (28).

"It's good to know I'll be here next year," Gill said. "I now have a new focus which is to help return the club to winning ways. We've got a lot of promising young guys in the squad which we need to continue to develop and if we do that, we've got a bright future."

Reds coach Richard Graham said Gill's decision was "fantastic news for the Reds".

"He has been one of the standout loose forwards across the competition and the fact that he wants to continue his career at Ballymore is a strong show of support for the team and the environment," Graham said.

Queensland Rugby chief executive Jim Carmichael said: "It's extremely pleasing to be able to announce a contract extension for Liam, as there has been a fair bit of speculation about his future for some time. We have always said Liam believes the best place for him to play his rugby is in Queensland, so to be able to confirm that is an important announcement for Queensland Rugby."