Melbourne Rebels have re-signed Luke Jones and Tom English

THE Melbourne Rebels have re-signed Luke Jones and Tom English, two of the club's brightest stars, until the end of the 2016 season.

Tom English

THE Melbourne Rebels have re-signed Luke Jones and Tom English, two of the club's brightest stars, until the end of the 2016 season.

Melbourne fended off interest from NSW and Western Force to retain lock/flanker Jones, while English had the interest of rival Australian provinces.

Former Australian Schoolboy captain Jones, 23, is a foundation Rebel.

Destined for higher honours, Jones resisted offers to link up with his close friend Michael Hooper at the Waratahs.

"Staying a Rebel is very important to me," he said.

"It means an opportunity to stay within a tight knit group of enthusiastic and aspirational young players.

"I believe we as a club are moving in the right direction. This is evident through the amount of players who are also committing long term like Tom, Paul Alo-Emile and Higgers (Scott Higginbotham).

"To be coached by Matt Cockbain who is a very similar player to what I am, has given me the confidence to grow as a lock/back-rower. I still have a lot to learn and having Matt coach me has lifted my game, there is no doubt about it.

"It has been a huge week for me personally and to get the start against a franchise (NSW) I grew up following is the perfect way to repay the faith Hilly and the coaching staff have shown in me this season."

English has had a strong impact since joining the club.

He was sidelined for much of 2012 because of a knee injury suffered playing for the Australian Sevens.

He joined Melbourne on its extended playing squad.

English has now been rewarded with a three-year contract.

"It has been a turbulent path, and I owe a great deal of gratitude to those who recruited me, the coaches and to the high performance staff who have invested a lot of their time and expertise to get me to this point," he said.

"It was awesome to win last week and to sign with the Rebels shortly after. To now face the Waratahs as a former New South Welshman really makes it feel like someone has written a script for this Friday night.

"We have had a rough trot, getting so close in so many matches and our character was questioned. But we stayed tight.

"We are working so hard at the moment, and there's no reason why we shouldn't continue to have success in our next three local derbies for 2013 and against the British & Irish Lions.