Simmons heading to Waratahs

The Waratahs have announced that Wallaby lock and former Reds vice-captain Rob Simmons has signed to play with them from the start of the 2018 season.

The 28-year old, who first played for the Reds in 2009, will join the Waratahs on a two-year deal that will see him in a sky blue jersey until the next Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.

“I gave the decision to come to New South Wales a lot of careful consideration and decided the move was right," Simmons told the Waratahs' official website.

"Now I’m really looking forward to the challenge of helping the Waratahs to win another Super Rugby title."

Simmons has played 73 Tests for the Wallabies after making his Test debut against South Africa in Brisbane in 2010. His most recent Test was when he was named in the starting team for the second Bledisloe Cup encounter against New Zealand in Dunedin last weekend.

He has earned 114 Super Rugby caps in his career since graduating from the Australian Schoolboys team of 2006 and the Australian U20s side in 2008.

Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson said Simmons not only adds experience to the pack, but has a driving ambition to succeed.

“What stood out was that even with 73 Test caps to his credit, Rob is still hungry to play at the highest possible level and his determination to get there will drive our whole pack forward,” he said.

“Our younger locks like Ryan McCauley and Tom Staniforth will benefit from having Rob working with them and teaching them from his years of experience as a Test player.

“We’re still a young team and what Rob will bring is that edge that comes from his 100 plus Super Rugby caps and his vast Test experience.

“Rob adds a great dimension to our lineout and a real strength in our scrums.”

Simmons will start training with the Waratahs at the completion of his Test commitments.