Australian Rugby
Benn Robinson re-commits to Waratahs
ESPN Staff
June 28, 2013
The Waratahs' Benn Robinson stretches the Rebels' defence, Rebels v Waratahs, Super Rugby, AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia, March 2, 2012
Benn Robinson has Al Baxter in his sights © Getty Images
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Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has committed his future to New South Wales, signing a new three-year deal with the Waratahs and Australian rugby.

The Waratahs' equal fourth-most capped player with 115 state appearances will remain in sky blue until the end of 2016, extending his tenure with his home state to 13 seasons. His decision places him in position to replace former state and country team-mate Al Baxter as the Waratahs' and Australia's most-capped prop; Baxter played for the Wallabies and the Waratahs on 69 and 130 occasions, respectively. Robinson, 28, is Australia's second-most capped front-rower, and he will earn his 58th Test cap when the Wallabies play the British & Irish Lions in the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday. He made his state debut against Salta in Argentina in 2004, two years before his first Super Rugby start, against Queensland Reds, and his Test debut against South Africa.

Robinson said he had re-committed to the Waratahs because "there's still a lot more I'd like to achieve in Australia" - chiefly playing at a Rugby World Cup having missed the 2011 tournament because of a season-ending knee injury. "The options were there to look at going overseas but I love living in Sydney and enjoy what I am doing at the moment," he said. "I'm just not ready to leave. I remain as proud now to wear the sky blue, and the gold, as I was the first time I put both jerseys on. I'm not big on either titles or statistics, but captaining my state, and then playing my 50th Test - both of which happened last year - are experiences that I will never forget."

Waratahs coach Michael Cheika said: "Benn Robinson has shown his class as a rugby player and his commitment to his team by the way in which he has adapted and led from the front, under a new and very different regime this season. His contributions to the changes that are happening in NSW rugby, both on and off the field, have been very important, and his re-signing takes him one step closer to being a one-team player, quite rare in the modern era."

Greg Growden previews the second Lions Test
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