He’s a proud country junior and now Tom Robertson will continue to wear the blue of the Waratahs until at least 2020.
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The Dubbo Kangaroos junior re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) earlier this week to continue his career in Super Rugby and with the Wallabies.
Robertson has played 15 tests for his country after making his debut in October of last yera.
“New South Wales is home for me. I'm very passionate about the Waratahs and Wallaby jersey and it means so much to me to get the chance to pull them both on,” Robertson told the ARU after putting pen to paper.
“There's plenty still to do this season with the Wallabies, but I'm also really excited about next year with the Waratahs.
"We're building some good competition for spots in the front row for both the Tahs and the Wallabies, which is good for the coaches but just makes me want to knuckle down and work harder to earn that spot.”
Much like any other rugby player, the option of playing overseas and potentially for more money was in front of Robertson but the 23-year-old had no intention of moving on at this stage of his career.
The young prop, comfortable at loosehead or tighthead, is regarded as one of the most astute minds in the game and is renowned for the way he studies the game.
Robertson, who was born in Wellington, has lost his starting place in the Wallabies lineup in recent times but came off the bench again on the weekend when downed the All Blacks.
He is firmly in Michael Cheika’s plans though and after signing a new deal Robertson now has a golden chance to push for Wallabies selection in what would be his first World Cu in Japan in 2019.
Cheika was the man who gave Robertson is debut
"Tom is still so young for a Test prop and now has the chance to really nail down a spot for the Waratahs as well as for the Wallabies,” the coach said.
“We're building some real depth across the front row and Tom is definitely part of that, but he'll have to continue stepping up as he has done in the past season.”
Cheika also praised Robertson for being able to juggle his playing career with studies.
The prop is currently studying a Master of Public Health at Sydney University while he has had to put his undergraduate medicine degree on the backburner because of rugby commitments
The Wallabies meet The Barbarians at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday before jetting off for an end-of-season of Japan and the United Kingdom.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
