Waratahs centre Tom Carter has decided to continue his Rugby career in Sydney by committed to the Waratahs on a new two-year deal which will take him through to the end of the 2012 season.
Carter is one of the most experienced players at the Tahs having made his state debut as a 21-year-old against Salta on the development tour of Argentina in 2004.
The following year he also toured with the team to eastern Europe and was a member of the Sydney University premiership-winning team. He has since gone on to win five-straight premierships with the Students, including a Man of the Match performance in last year’s five-point win over Randwick.
Carter’s Super Rugby ambitions stalled at times due to injury, before being selected for his tournament debut against the Hurricanes in round one of the 2008 competition.
In his first Super 14 season, Carter went on to start all 15 matches at inside centre including the semi-final and final.
Since then he has never missed a match for the Waratahs and now has 32-straight appearances for the Sydney-based team. He will extend that run on Friday after again being selected at outside centre for the Tahs clash with the Lions at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Carter said that while he weighed up his options, he always leaned towards remaining with the Waratahs in a deal which could take him past 50 state caps.
"I’ve always been really happy here at the Tahs and when they approached me to extend my contract I was always pretty likely to stay," said Carter.
"Of course you see what’s out there and try to look at it without emotion to make sure you’re making the best decision from a personal and a Rugby point of view, and I’m more than comfortable with the decision I’ve made.
"The culture and the set-up here are fantastic; you only need to look at the quality of players who have come here recently, and the number of players who are choosing to stay here to realise that.
"I think there’s still a bit of unfinished business here for a lot of us who believe we’re capable of winning a Super Rugby competition with the Tahs. Playing in that final in 2008 showed what we’re capable of and as a playing group we’re confident we can go one better."
Carter is looking to celebrate his contract renewal with back-to-back home victories this Friday against the Lions.
"We were lucky to get away with the game last week and know there’s a lot of improvement in us for the match this Friday," said Carter.
"It was a hard week with the travel back from Africa, but with that out of the way we feel we’re ready to hit our straps."
Tom Carter
Born: 25 February 1983, Young NSW
Physical: 189cm, 103kg
Juniors: Young Yabbies
School: Knox Grammar School
Club: Sydney University
Position: Centre
State Caps: 39
State Points: 30 [6t]
State Debut: 2004 v Salta
Super Rugby Caps: 32
Super Rugby Points: 20 [4t]
Super Rugby Debut: 2008 v Hurricanes
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