Waratahs captain Jake Gordon to re-sign after decision to extend Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt

The complicated Wallabies coaching succession plan looks set to pay immediate dividends – with Waratahs captain Jake Gordon to shelve his plans to quit Australian rugby in pursuit of France.

Jake Gordon is ready to re-sign with Australian rugby. Picture: Getty

Waratahs captain Jake Gordon says he is ready to put pen to paper and re-sign with Australian Rugby after Joe Schmidt was given an extension as Wallabies coach.

Unwanted by Eddie Jones for the last World Cup, Gordon was tempted to take up a lucrative offer to play club rugby in France before Schmidt resurrected his Test career.

Schmidt’s first-choice as starting halfback for most of 2024, Gordon has been a revelation in the number nine Australian jersey and while nothing is ever guaranteed, his recall has convinced him to commit himself to staying in Australia.

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“A little bit’s changed from probably last time I was looking to going offshore,” Gordon said.

“I really enjoyed my time with the Wallabies last year and really enjoyed my time with Joe. He was really good for my development at Test level.

Jake Gordon prepares to feed a scrum for the Waratahs. Picture: Getty

“I see the opportunity we (with the NSW Waratahs) have here too. I thought the progression that we’ve had has been really good.

“I want to keep competing. Not that going over there I wouldn’t be, but I see a really exciting opportunity here in the next two years. I want to be a part of it.’

While it’s understood the details of his new contract are in the final stages before he signs, Gordon said he had been in regular contact with both Schmidt and Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and was transparent that he had been approached by European clubs.

“There were definitely talks with a few overseas clubs, which would be silly for me not to do at this point of my career,” he said.

Gordon was frozen out by former Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones. Picture: Getty

“I like the way we’re trending and I see a really good opportunity for myself and the team to stay here for a bit longer.

“I wouldn’t say unfinished business but there was still some more stuff I wanted to do. I didn’t think I’d been consistent at Test level at all.

“I remember my first interaction with Joe was a good one and when I came into camp he kept it very simple for me and I think the one thing I enjoyed about him, not just his simplicity but how direct he was around his feedback with myself.

“He’s someone who’s seen a lot over time and his credentials speak for himself. When you get in those environments you just want to soak up all the knowledge you can get and he was a guy that I thought had a really good balance between telling you what he expects from you as a player and he’s a good bloke off the field too.”

Jake Gordon is desperate to help the Waratahs resurrect their finals hopes. Picture: Getty

Returning from injury, Gordon’s first focus is on trying to help the Waratahs beat the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday to resurrect their bid to make the Super Rugby finals.

Unbeaten at home this season – including a win over the Brumbies – the Waratahs have failed to register a single victory on the road and face a huge challenge against the Brumbies in the nation’s capital.

“We probably haven’t performed the way we wanted to away from home. We played some really good footy at home, but yeah, we are searching for a really good result this weekend,” Gordon said.

“We’re expecting a Brumbies team really ready to go, especially after the last game at Allianz.

“We’re focused on our performance, we believe if we play some consistent good rugby, we’ll get a really good result. Must-wins? Yeah, you probably start thinking that this time of the year.”

Originally published as Waratahs captain Jake Gordon to re-sign after decision to extend Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt