Iain Payten in Cape Town, The Daily Telegraph | February 26, 2010

STIRLING Mortlock shapes as the Melbourne Rebels' first Australian signing next month after admitting he's leaving Canberra and that reuniting with Rod Macqueen at a new franchise is "very exciting prospect".

But the Rebels shouldn't expect an answer any time soon from Rocky Elsom, with the Wallabies skipper suggesting he's happy to wait until after the original post-Super 14 deadline before pondering his home in 2011.

The ARU's decision to wind back the Rebels' ban on signing Australians to March 15 has seen their negotiations heat up with key Wallabies targets. The Rebels approached the former Wallabies skipper in January and, following the Brumbies' revelations this week they've not yet offered Mortlock a contract for 2011, the 33-year-old admitted yesterday he would end his 10-year stint with the ACT.

Mortlock is waiting on a concrete offer from the Rebels to weigh up against European club interest, but said he always thought he'd end his career in Australia.

On the move ... Stirling Mortlock. Source: The Daily Telegraph

"Everything about the Melbourne Rebels franchise seems great," Mortlock said in Cape Town ahead of the Brumbies' clash with the Stormers tonight.

"Being a founding member of any organisation and likewise being associated with Rod Macqueen, who has been there and done it all, is a significant part of why I would want to stay and go to Melbourne."

Mortlock said the ARU's decision to lift the July 31 ban was sensible, given the Rebels had been unable to make formal offers. The Brumbies had been upfront in saying he would only get a one-year offer at best, he added.

Mortlock could probably earn more in Europe, particularly with his ARU top-up money likely to be reduced next contract. However, a package put together by Melbourne will no doubt involve some attractive post-career business opportunities with the Rebels' array of city backers.

But while a conversation with his wife and manager stands between Mortlock and a final decision in coming weeks, Elsom is, typically, in no such hurry.

On a one-year deal with a one-year option at the Brumbies, the world-class flanker is also being pursued by Macqueen's Rebels but after just one game for ACT, self-managed Elsom is not even contemplating next year.

"I haven't had a whole lot of time, so I just haven't been doing it. You have to focus on what is important, and that is here [with the Brumbies] at the minute," he said.