Wallaby star Berrick Barnes has committed to Australia through to the 2011 World Cup, but more importantly he has jumped ship to the Waratahs.

The former Reds back confirmed the move on Wednesday, after being named in the Wallaby squad which leaves Australia on Friday for the Tri-Nations clash with the Springboks.

Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey said the signing would further strengthen the New South Wales backline and the overall squad.

The news of Barnes' rush to Sydney follows just a day after another former Reds players, Drew Mitchell, who played for the Western Force the past two years, confirmed his stated intention to play out of Sydney next year.

"Berrick's an outstanding player, and at just 23 years of age he has an amazing future in the game," Hickey said.

"His contribution to Queensland Rugby over the last four seasons has been extremely strong and we're looking forward to that kind of impact next year.

"Obviously he will to remain with the Wallabies for the remainder of 2009, and we're really looking forward to him joining the Super 14 squad after the tour at the end of the year."

Barnes made his Super Rugby debut in 2006 for the Reds against the Waratahs, and has earned 45 state caps over the last four years.

Chosen for the World Cup campaign in France in 2007, he made his debut off the bench in a Pool match against Japan and scored two tries.

However, his rise to prominence was fast-tracked when called on to take over as first-choice flyhalf after Stephen Larkham injured a knee just 24 hours before the Pool game with Wales in Cardiff.

While Australia exited the 2007 tournament at the quarterfinal stage, Barnes played in Australia's last four matches at the World Cup and last year developed into an influential member of the Wallabies midfield by establishing himself at inside centre.

He has gone on to make 17 Test appearances for Australia and scored a try in his last international against New Zealand earlier this month in Auckland.

Born and raised in the Queensland agricultural town of Kingaroy, Barnes was an exceptional schoolboy athlete at Ipswich Grammar School and also achieved representative honours in cricket before signing to play Rugby League with the Brisbane Broncos.

He made nine first grade appearances with the NRL club as an 18-year-old in 2005 before switching to Rugby with the Reds.

His Reds debut in 2006 was against the Waratahs and, in the past four seasons, Barnes has made 45 Super Rugby appearances, scoring 105 points from six tries, 18 conversions, seven penalty goals and six drop goals.

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