Wallabies backline player Kurtley Beale has signed for English side Wasps in a record £1.5m ( AU$ 2.96m – R32.6m) deal according to reports.
Wasps have not yet confirmed the deal, but The Times on Friday reported the news of the Waratahs playmaker having already signed for the club.
The move from the Waratahs to Wasps would make Beale, 27, the highest-paid player in England.
The two-year deal would commence next season, but Beale would still be eligible to play for Australia as he looks to add to his 60 Test caps.
Waratahs captain Michael Hooper said losing Beale would be a big blow for his team.
“You can’t replace Kurtley Beale,” Hooper said. “You get something different and that’s with rugby what we’ll be chasing.”
“I’m happy for him as an individual. The ability to make those decisions is all part of rugby but, for me, selfishly it’s probably disappointing,” he said.
“I love playing with Kurtley. I love having him in the environment here in the team but hopefully I’ll be able to play with him a lot more in the future.”
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson, meanwhile, hoped the deal was not final.
“It’s unconfirmed,” said Gibson.
“Obviously for Kurtley it’s a big decision. He’s got to decide between staying in Australia and a really supportive environment or going overseas and playing his rugby over there. For us, we’d love him to stay. That hasn’t changed.”
“He’s been playing spectacularly well and I’m sure in his own mind he knows that it’s going to be a difficult decision for him. The fact the sun is shining, it’s a beautiful blue day here and he’s enjoying his rugby and, I guess for him, those decisions will weigh heavily on him.”
