NSW Waratahs captain Michael Hooper admits Kurtley Beale will be impossible to replace after the backline ace signed a lucrative deal with Wasps in England.
The Times in London broke the story that Beale will become the biggest earner in English rugby after agreeing to a two-year deal worth STG1.5 million ($A2.96 million).
While the 60-Test star remains eligible for Wallabies selection under the so-called Giteau Law, Beale's departure from the Waratahs at the end of the Super Rugby season is a massive blow for the 2014 champions.
"You can't replace Kurtley Beale," Hooper said.
"You get something different and that's what we'll be chasing."
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Hooper said he was gutted at the news, which caught him by surprise on Friday.
"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 was still hoping the 27-year-old utility would stay in Sydney.
"It's unconfirmed at this stage and, as far as I'm concerned, he's still staying," Gibson said.
"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."
In reality, though, Beale's departure is a fait accompli with the playmaker understood to have resisted pleas from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to stay put.
Beale, whose career has been dogged by alcohol-related controversies, will trade the security of a strong family network in Sydney for the cold of Coventry in England's West Midlands, comforted by the fact he'll be among the top-five highest-paid players in the world.
Cheika will continue picking him for Australia after, ironically, affording the former world player of the year nominee the chance to continue representing his country while living overseas by handing Beale his 60th Test cap in last year's World Cup final.
As Beale re-unites with former Melbourne Rebels teammate Danny Cipriani, likely playing in the centres at Wasps, Gibson is already plotting a contingency plan for the Waratahs.
"Part of my job as a coach is to make sure that, if we lose players, that we've got resources to call upon," Gibson said.
"Someone of (Beale's) form and standing in the game internationally, it's going to be very difficult (to replace him).
"But I've always seen in my career and in my experience (when) a good player leaves, it's not long until another player emerges and takes an opportunity that's been given."
