Wallabies and Waratahs star Kurtley Beale is reported to be close to considering signing a contract to play for English Premiership club Wasps.
Twenty-seven-year-old Beale would become the highest paid player in the English premiership if the two year deal goes ahead.
The AUD $1.35m a year deal would make Beale one of the top three highest paid players with Matt Giteau and Dan Carter (1st on $1.92 m).
The Australian Rugby Union would not be able to match the offer from Wasps even if they offered him a flexible contract allowing him to play in Japan.
Beale has played 60 Tests for Australia so he would still be eligible to play for the Wallabies if he was selected for the end of year tours or the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The deal would see Beale being re-united with his former Rebels team mate Danny Cipriani who has recently signed to play for Wasps next season.
Wasps coach Dai Young has confirmed that they are looking at Beale
“We constantly say that any quality player who comes on the market, we would be interested in them, but so would 11 other Premiership teams,” Young told PASport.
“It’s unfair for us to talk about players that are not our players. I think we have been pretty consistent in that, really.
“We have signed four players for next season – and been linked with 104.”
“I think we have to adopt the policy, really, that when we do sign players, we’ve announced them. We have been pretty honest with that.
“Would you want Kurtley Beale? Yeah. And we will have the full-back and the winger. I will give you a list if you want.”
Beale said last month that he was interested in playing a sting for an overseas based club.
“I think I’ll definitely, if it comes to that stage, be thinking about it,” Beale told the Canberra times
“If the opportunity comes up, I’d love to express my interest.”
