Former Australia rugby league test center Mark Gasnier has ruled out a move to the Melbourne Rebels in the Super15.
Gasnier is returning to Australia's National Rugby League after two years playing the rival code rugby union
St. George Illawarra and Gasnier on Monday jointly announced his return to the NRL club on a four-and-a-half year contract ending in 2014.
Gasnier played 141 NRL matches for St. George, nine State of Origin matches for New South Wales and 15 tests for Australia before quitting league in late 2008 to join French rugby club Stade Francais.
Gasnier could play his first match for St. George as early as next Monday when the Dragons are scheduled to meet Penrith in the 17th round of the current NRL season.
"We are very pleased to see Mark return to the Dragons. We were all disappointed to see him leave, but we respected and understood the external circumstances that led to his decision at that time," Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said in a statement.
"It is a positive outcome for everyone associated with rugby league, not just the Dragons, to have an athlete of Mark's quality back in the NRL for all the right reasons."
Gasnier said he was looking forward to resuming his rugby league career and his long association with St. George. He said he had missed league during his two years with Stade Francais and had no intention of leaving again during his new contract term.
"The last two years have been great, I've learnt a lot both on and off the field and I think living overseas, especially in Europe, teaches you a lot," Gasnier said.
"But whilst you are away from friends and family you have a lot of time to think and when you're thinking about the back end of your career you set your priorities differently and winning a competition here at the Dragons is definitely one thing I would like to achieve."
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