Arnold: World Cup a bigger lure than Euro
Arnold has committed has signed a three-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union and the Brumbies.
According to French media reports, Toulon recently offered the 26-year-old an annual salary of €400,000 (AU$570,000) to join fellow Australians Matt Giteau, James O'Connor and Liam Gill at the club.
However, Arnold chose to stay 'home'.
The towering 208-centimetre tall Arnold made his Wallaby debut this year in the first Test match of the England Series in Brisbane on June 11.
After starting that Test in the No.4 jersey, Arnold went on to feature in the gold jersey in eight other Tests during the year, and memorably scored his first try in the Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park, Auckland.
Arnold's breakout year for the Wallabies came after he made the Wallabies training squad in 2015 – just five years after he played his first match in 2010 for the Murwillumbah Bananas third grade team on the NSW Far North Coast.
Having established himself as a vital cog in the Wallabies outfit, Arnold said he was deeply committed to Australia, despite having received offers from overseas clubs.
"It was flattering to receive offers from overseas," Arnold said.
"It wasn't an easy decision to make, but I am committed to the Brumbies, and Australian Rugby.
"I am looking forward to attempting to stake a claim for a regular place in both the Super Rugby and international line-ups.
"The lure of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 played a major part in my decision and I was hesitant to head overseas too early in my career.
"It's a new era at the Brumbies and there are a number of talented young players coming through the ranks both here and in Australian Rugby in general and it is an exciting time to be involved."
