Horne and McMahon re-sign with ARU

The Australian Rugby Union have re-signed NSW Waratahs winger Rob Horne and Melbourne Rebels backrower Sean McMahon.

Australian Wallabies player Rob Horne

Rob Horne (pic) and Sean McMahon have re-signed with the Australian Rugby Union. (AAP)

Melbourne Rebels backrower Sean McMahon and NSW Waratahs winger Rob Horne have signed two-year contract extensions with the Australian Rugby Union until the end of 2017.

The deals mean both players will remain in Australian rugby for the next three seasons, a major boost for the Rebels and defending champions the Waratahs ahead of the Super Rugby season which kicks off on February 13.

McMahon is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in Australian rugby and could have had his pick of Super Rugby clubs after a break-out 2014 but chose to stick with the Rebels.

In his first year in the competition the 20-year-old made his Wallabies debut on the 2014 European tour, playing three Tests.

He also won the Australian Super Rugby rookie of the year.

Rebels coach Tony McGahan was thrilled to secure McMahon's services for the next three seasons.

"Sean has made a wonderful impact at the Rebels, despite still being just 20," McGahan said.

"He has demonstrated an ability to succeed at Super Rugby level, and clearly he is going to get better."

McMahon, originally from Brisbane, said staying at the Rebels was an easy decision.

"I can see the future of the Rebels getting better, and in the next few years we will continue to build towards an eventual premiership under this coaching staff and I want to be a part of that," he said.

"I love it down here and being part of this group, and now I can focus on playing with this decision already made."

It capped a meteoric rise for McMahon, who at seventeen years of age was the youngest Australian Rugby Sevens representative, and returned to the sport for a brief period in 2014 to win a Commonwealth Games Bronze Medal.

He also captained the Australia under-20s to the IRB Junior World Rugby Championships.

Horne, 25, played a major role in the Waratahs' 2014 Super Rugby title win, while he also earned 10 caps for the Wallabies.

Both McMahon and Horne are expected to feature in the Wallabies squad for the World Cup in September-October.


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