22 Dec 2012

Pococok signs on with Wallabies until 2015 World Cup

11:33 am on 22 December 2012

The Australia flanker David Pocock has agreed a new three-year contract with the Wallabies which is expected to take him through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The talented 24-year-old openside is considered one of the best poachers of the ball in world rugby and retaining his services for next year's British and Irish Lions series and the World Cup is a big boost to the Wallabies.

Twice winners Australia were handed a tricky draw for the group stages of the 2015 World Cup alongside hosts England and Wales earlier this month.

But negotiating a passage to the quarter-finals of the showpiece will be much easier with the services of Zimbabwe-born Pocock, who has won 45 caps for Australia, captained the side on numerous occasions and has twice been nominated for the prestigious IRB international player of the year award.

He will play for the ACT Brumbies in the next Super Rugby season after leaving the Perth-based Western Force side earlier this year.

In June, Pocock led the Wallabies to a 3-0 home series win over Wales before injuring his knee against the All Blacks in August and missing most of the European Tour which concluded earlier this month.

His re-signing follows that of controversial Tokoroa-born first five eighths Quade Cooper, who agreed a new two-year deal earlier this month after protracted talks.