Sydney Swans premiership players Ted Richards and Lewis Roberts-Thomson will remain in red and white until at least the end of 2014, with the pair signing new contract extensions.

Both Richards and Roberts-Thomson were contracted until the end of next season, but have now extended their deals by a further 12 months.

Sydney Swans General Manager – Football, Dean Moore, said it was fantastic for the Club to secure two senior premiership players.

“Both players were valuable members of the Swans premiership team, and it is exciting to have them on board for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.”

Moore said Richards’ 2012 season was an outstanding year for the defender, who earned All-Australian honours for the first time in his 11-season career.

“Ted is coming off a personal best season in 2012 that saw him named All-Australian after playing on some of the game’s biggest and best forwards,” Moore said.

“He is an important member of our leadership group, so it is pleasing to have him re-sign.”

Moore added that Roberts-Thomson, who kicked a career-high 25 goals and was honoured with a Sydney Swans Life Membership in 2012, was an important re-signing for the club.

“There is hardly a position on the ground that LRT hasn’t played in the last few seasons. He is a tremendously versatile player,” Moore said.

“Lewis is born and bred here in New South Wales and is a Club life member so we are obviously very excited to have him extend his career at the Swans.”

The Swans playing group will take a two-week Christmas break and will return to the club for pre-season training on January 7.