Stirling Mortlock is considering his options © Getty Images

Related Links

Bulls sneak narrowest of victories

Blues and Brumbies meet in battle of hopefuls

Bulls welcome desperate Hurricanes

Freier undecided on Rebels switch

Gatland tells Delve to take chance

Lipman demands ARU meeting

Players/Officials Stirling Mortlock

Tournaments/Tours Super 14

Teams Australia | Brumbies | Melbourne Rebels

Stirling Mortlock is considering a move to the Melbourne Rebels.

The former Australia skipper is out of contract with the Brumbies and Australian Rugby Union (ARU) at the end of 2010 and has admitted that the Rebels, who will join Super Rugby in 2011, offer a compelling case.

Mortlock, 32, lost the Australia captaincy to Rocky Elsom at the tail end of 2009 and has been mulling over his future options, with the Rebels and a number of Japanese clubs in the frame.

"Basically it's the first time in my career where I've generally sat down and thought long and hard about going overseas or staying, and I'm really not too sure what I want to do," he said. "But at this stage Melbourne seems like a fantastic opportunity and one that I never really thought that I'd be looking into."

Mortlock, 32, expects to make a decision over his future by the end of the month and his manager has met with ARU officials. A move to the Rebels would likely keep alive his hopes for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

"There's always periods of time as a professional rugby player where you are negotiating and involved in talks both here and abroad, and that's just the way it is," he said. "I'm sure a lot of other players are in that position where they're assessing the situation and looking at the future. It doesn't change what you focus on day in day out and for us that's Auckland [against the Blues] on Friday."