The 24-year-old flanker, who got his first Test start in over a year in the 9-6 loss to Wales in Cardiff, has re-signed with Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs for two years.

The new deal takes him through till at least 2020.

He was sidelined for almost 12 months when he sustained nerve damage after his hamstring was ripped from the bone in a match against the Barbarians just before last year's spring tour.

Dempsey, who has won eight Test caps, missed all of the 2018 Super Rugby season, making his return in the NRC.

He came back into Test rugby in late October with a cameo off the bench against New Zealand in Yokohama.

"I went a long time without any good news so now to have some back-to-back good news after playing the last game and to now re-sign, is just awesome,"' Dempsey said.

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika described Dempsey as a tough guy.

"I'm getting to know him better and better but I can already see he's hungry to play and that's the number one prerequisite for good footballers is that they want to play at all costs," Cheika said.

The Wallabies finish their 2018 campaign with matches against Italy and England respectively over the next two weekends.

Australian Associated Press