24 Aug 2010

Vatuvei turns rugby union away to re-sign with Warriors

6:20 pm on 24 August 2010

Winger Manu Vatuvei will become just the second 10-year Warrior with the Kiwi international agreeing to a two-year extension with the National Rugby League club.

Vatuvei says he turned down an offer from rugby union, opting to stay with the Auckland based side.

Vatuvei's was off contract next year but will now be with the Warriors until at least the end of the 2013 NRL season.

He won't reveal which rugby club it was, although suggestions are it was northern hemisphere based.

He says family played a large part in his decision to remain in Auckland and he never considered moving to another NRL club.

The former halfback Stacey Jones is the only other player to have notched up ten years of service with the Warriors.

Vatuvei made his NRL debut with the club as an 18-year-old in 2004.

He's scored 75 tries in 110 matches so far, and is just two short of Jones' club record of 77.