One-time All Black Sosene Anesi is poised to sign with the New South Wales Waratahs for next year's Super 14 rugby competition.
The Waikato and Chiefs speedster is set to be recruited as their marquee overseas import and outside back replacement for sacked Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri, The Australian newspaper
reported.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said last month that Anesi's manager had approached them about the chance of crossing the Tasman.
With Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga forming a powerful Chiefs back three, Anesi was looking elsewhere.
"He's a quality player. He has versatility. He can play wing, fullback, 13. He would be a really good candidate for that outside back position," Hickey said at the time.
Hickey was also looking at Wallaby Digby Ioane, but he had since re-signed with the Queensland Reds.
Anesi - whose solitary test was against Fiji in 2005 - was being looked at as a fullback, to form a back three with Wallabies wingers Lachie Turner and Drew Mitchell, who recently switched from the Western Force.
He admitted in recent weeks the Waratahs were an attractive proposition.
"If the opportunity's there I'll take it. It's been quite tough for me with the likes of Lelia and Sitiveni at the Chiefs," the Samoan-born 28-year-old told Fairfax New Zealand.
"I haven't had much rugby this year with the Chiefs, with injuries and stuff, so what I'm trying to do is make sure I get on that park and play some rugby. I want to play, so (a move) would be a good opportunity for me."
Should he sign with the Waratahs, Anesi will become the third New Zealand player in the past year to switch to an Australian franchise.
Flanker Daniel Braid played this year's Super 14 for the Reds while prop Ben Castle returned from Europe to link up with coach John Mitchell's Force.
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) opened the way this year by allowing each Super 14 side one marquee overseas import.
- NZPA
