Freier re-signs with Waratahs, ARU
A burning desire to help NSW win their maiden Super 14 championship prompted Wallabies hooker Adam Freier to re-sign with the Waratahs and Australian Rugby Union for another two years.
Freier's contract with the ARU was to expire on December 31, leaving the 28-year-old free to head offshore after the Wallabies' spring tour of Europe in November.
But, in a major boost for the Waratahs in particular, the 21-Test veteran opted against following NSW and Australian teammates Rocky Elsom and Dan Vickerman to the departure lounge and pursue a big-money contract overseas.
"NSW have never won a Super championship at all and I want to be part of that team that wins it for the first time," Freier said. "I'm very passionate about winning a title there.
"You set yourselves goals at the start of your career: What do you want to do? How many games do you want to play? What do you want to achieve and my goal was to play in a Super 14 and win a Super 14 title and I'm confident that's going to happen in the next two years.
"And that's one of the factors why I stayed with NSW."
In addition to overseas offers, Freier had the chance to join another Australian province but he simply couldn't turn his back on the Waratahs.
"I've played at the Brumbies before and then moved to the Waratahs and I've always had a funny feeling that, if you've played at three clubs, it doesn't show you as much of a person if you're club hopping like that," he said.
"My loyalty is to NSW. I was given a chance there by (former coach) Ewen (McKenzie) a few years ago and I'm very close to that club."
Freier admitted he came "pretty close" to leaving Australia but said the dawn of new eras at both the Wallabies, under supercoach Robbie Deans, and Waratahs, with Chris Hickey replacing McKenzie, also swayed him towards staying put.
"I have to admit my decision definitely changed after seeing how the Wallabies operate now with Robbie," Freier said.
"He's definitely brought a different way of thinking and I thought that was a very telling factor in my decision.
"I'm really confident in the way rugby is moving forward in our country, not just from an Australian point of view but also at the Waratahs. There's changes there as well."
Now third behind Queensland's Stephen Moore and NSW teammate Tatafu Polota-Nau in the pecking order for the Wallabies' hooker's spot, it would have been easy for Freier to up and leave Australia.
"I'd be leaving for the wrong reasons," he said.
"If I was to leave on the grounds now, I'd almost feel I hadn't accomplished what I'd set out to do, and that's to be the best in my position in the best team in the world."
Freier played in all of Australia's 12 Test matches last season, starting in three and scoring two tries at the Rugby World Cup in France.
He debuted for the Wallabies in 2002, off the bench against Argentina, and has played in the past two World Cups.
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