Wallabies and Waratahs lock Rob Simmons will be sticking around in Sydney after signing a new two-year deal.
Simmons has opted against heading offshore after the Rugby World Cup to stay in Australia and extend his time with the Waratahs.
The second rower has been in NSW for two seasons, after being released from the Reds squad back in 2017.
This season especially the former Red has found his groove, making an impact around the ground and in the set piece.
Simmons said when he was contemplating his next move in rugby, there was one simple factor he had to consider.
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"I suppose both my family and myself have been enjoying our time down there and I thought why leave somewhere we're enjoying?," he said.
"We did, we had a look and I had some offers but our biggest decision was around that enjoyment.
"Change is always good but it's a risk as well and I suppose definitely changing a whole country, being away from your family while trying to start a young family myself, I just thought here's something we know, we're enjoying it, why not stay?"
Simmons said the decision to move to the Waratahs was one that had been completely vindicated.
"It was 100 per cent worth it, I've loved the move," he said.
"Once I came down here I felt a little bit like maybe I could've done with some change a bit earlier on to an extent."
The Waratahs will be ushering in some change in 2020 with the departure of coach Daryl Gibson and assistant Simon Cron and Simmons said with his next two years he wanted to help bring the next generation through.
"I suppose I've enjoyed my own journey up until now and enjoyed the guys I've got to meet and learn off and challenges I've had," he said.
"I'd like to be able to pass on some of my experience to younger guys and let them learn off me and stick around and have some good depth around the club.
"There's genuine interest in trying to improve themselves and use any resources they have available to them and experienced players and some good coaches and genuine drive for everyone to try and get better is something that really excited me and yet another reason for me to stick around and everyone buying into that common goal."
The 30-year-old will go into Test season six appearances shy of becoming the 11th Wallabies centurion but that's not a mark he is concerned with.
"My wife asked me about it, maybe trying to organise something behind the scenes but that's about the only thought I'd given it," he said.
"They're pretty cool things to explain but I'm very grateful for 94, I'm very grateful for one, so to be able to get 100 or even be close to 100 is pretty cool.
"If you get there or not, it doesn't really worry me much, I'm more focused on what the team can do and try to provide something for the team."
Simmons is in Wallabies camp in Brisbane, ahead of their first Rugby Championship Test against South Africa on July 21 (AEST).
