The inspirational openside flanker is in his 13th season for the Waratahs after making his first appearance against the Brumbies in 1999 before his Super Rugby debut against the Stormers in 2000.
He told reporters on Tuesday in Sydney that he hopes to finish his career playing for the Wallabies in the World Cup later this year in New Zealand.
"I've been very humbled and very proud to have represented Australia over a decade, which has encompassed 79 Test matches, and I hope to increase on that number," Waugh said.
"It's obviously a big year for rugby and I want to be a part of that World Cup squad.
"I'm very proud of my career and what I've achieved and, in terms of rugby memories, I hope that my fondest memories occur over the coming months."
Waugh led New South Wales to fifth on the Super Rugby table and a wildcard spot in the play-offs in 2011 with a 10-6 record including four wins out of the province's last six games.
It means the Waratahs will be playing for more than just their finals survival on Friday afternoon (AEST) against the Blues in Auckland, with the Eden Park clash potentially Waugh and veteran prop Al Baxter's final appearance in the sky-blue jumper.
Baxter decided to call it a day earlier this month, citing a tiring body as the reason he would step aside from the game to pursue a career in architecture.
The Waratahs skipper said he had started to think about life after rugby.
"I think at 31 years of age, the timing is right for me to make the transition into business," he said.
"It's been my honour and my privilege to play at the Waratahs for 13 years."
The 31-year-old Waugh came to the Waratahs from club side Sydney University.
He made his Test debut in 2000 off the bench against England. He continued to see game time for the Wallabies until an ankle injury held him out of contention in 2002.
The following year he returned to the international scene as Wallabies vice-captain at the 2003 World Cup at home.
Australia eventually lost the final to England at Sydney's Olympic stadium but Waugh was honoured with the second annual John Eales Medal that season as the Wallabies' best player.
In 2010 he became the most-capped player in New South Wales rugby history when he surpassed former Wallaby scrum-half Chris Whitaker, whom Waugh also took the mantle of most games as Waratahs captain.
Waugh has won New South Wales' best forward award for the last three years running and took home the Matthew Burke Cup as the side's players' player in 2004.
Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, nsw, sydney-2000 First posted June 21, 2011 12:01:00
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