Rob Horne stays to help build Waratahs dynasty

The 22-Test winger has been in the Australian system for a lot longer than his 25 years suggest but still feels he can be of use to the team that gave him his professional debut at the age of 18. Horne rejected a two-year deal worth up to $800,000 with Irish province Munster and says while it was "one of the toughest decisions" he has made in his career, he is confident it was the right one.

"The last couple of years I've done short-term deals to back myself and get the best out of myself," he said. "I'm happy to commit myself long term to NSW and Australian rugby now, to really give my best for the blue jersey and potentially the Wallaby jersey."

Horne was a pivotal part of the Waratahs' Super Rugby success last year and is clearly regarded as pivotal to it continuing. As the side prepares to launch a defence of their title in two weeks' time, there is little talk of last season's glory.

"Yes, we've won the club's first Super title, but we haven't proved anything, I don't feel," Horne said. "It's all well and good to win one, but to go where we want to go as a club you need sustained success and consistently be a top side. Until we do that we'll still have all the doubters and we'll still have everyone ready to knock us off."

Only five teams have won the title more than once in the competition's 19-year history. Among those the Crusaders are the benchmark for long-term success with seven championships. "The Crusaders are obviously a world renowned club for being successful and we're nowhere near that conversation at the moment," Horne said. "We need to do it for many, many years to be in a sentence with them. But to be a club where every week you can turn up to a full house at the footy stadium, and to know what we're going to deliver every week, is what we're after."