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KANE Douglas is expected to finalise his deal to move to Irish club Leinster by the end of the week.
The Wallaby and Waratahs lock is still negotiating with the ARU, however it's understood he is leaning heavily towards moving abroad in October.
While Irish media reported that Douglas had already signed a two-year deal with Leinster, he has not put pen to paper.
However, it's understood Douglas will accept Leinster's offer, which would be a major blow for the Wallabies' World Cup plans.
Kane Douglas receives a helping hand from Waratah teammate Jacques Potgieter at NSW training. Source: Getty Images
With Australia's captain and leading lineout taker Ben Mowen off to France at the end of the year and Melbourne lock Hugh Pyle — who has been involved in the Wallabies squad — also moving to France, lineout talent has become a major concern leading into the 2015 tournament.
Douglas has been the form Wallaby second-rower in Super Rugby this season and, at just 24, should have been a long-term international.
With a serious lack of depth in the key second-row position, Douglas's expected departure would force Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie to gamble on untried youngsters this year in the hope they would be ready for the World Cup.
Douglas's NSW teammate Will Skelton would be near the front of the queue after impressing throughout this season, while Melbourne's Luke Jones and Western Force's Adam Coleman are potential bolters.
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The ARU's limited funds are making it increasingly tough for them to match lucrative offers from overseas clubs, while local players are becoming far more interested in exploring foreign lifestyles than their predecessors.
Douglas's teammate Israel Folau said the popular lock would make the right decision for himself.
"He's obviously off-contract, I'm sure the Tahs and the Wallabies would love to have him around next year with the World Cup coming," Folau said.
"He's got a decision to make and I'm sure he'll make the right one in terms of what is best for him and what his long-term goals are.
Israel Folau has denied reports he plans to leave despite being tied to rugby until the end of 2015. Source: Getty Images
"Everyone is different in the way their career pans out."
However, Folau hosed down rumours that he would walk out on his ARU contract before it expired at the end of 2015 to return to the NRL.
"It's just all talk going around, I've said it before, I'm contracted to the Tahs until the end of next year and I'm having a ball here," Folau said.
"I'm enjoying my time and I'd like to be part of that World Cup campaign if I get picked.
"I'm having fun playing rugby and I'd like to continue that in the long term."
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