Wallabies prop Pek Cowan says he will probably make the heartbreaking decision to continue his rugby career overseas if the Western Force are axed.
The Force's future hangs in the balance after the Australian Rugby Union decided to cut them from the Super Rugby competition.
RugbyWA have appealed the decision to the NSW Supreme Court, with a judgement set to be handed down early next week.
Cowan has been with the Force from their inception in 2005, and the 31-year-old would have been a certainty to re-sign had the franchise not been under threat.
Seven weeks ago, Cowan's strong form was rewarded with a call-up into an extended Wallabies squad.
But the 10-Test prop appears certain to be lost to Australian rugby if the Force do fold.
"It would be heartbreaking to have to make that decision," Cowan said of continuing his career overseas.
"But I'd be making that decision because the club wouldn't be here. It would be with a heavy heart that I would have to move on.
"I have two boys aged seven and eight. And my wife is 28 weeks pregnant.
"There's a few other guys whose partners are pregnant as well, or have just had kids.
"This is not a pleasant situation we're in.
"You're being told to sit and wait and hang on tight. But we have lives to live.
"This game has given us so much. But at the same time, it feels like it's draining us so much as well."
Cowan said even if the Force do survive, it would be an uneasy feeling playing under the umbrella of the ARU.
"Emotionally it's hard to commit to a team where you feel the governing body doesn't want you there anyway," Cowan said.
"You kind of feel like you're the black sheep."
Rugby fans were left stunned when the financially-strapped ARU knocked back a $50 million offer from billionaire Andrew Forrest.
The ARU claim it's simply too late for them to reverse their decision to axe the Force.
"You just scratch your head wondering how the ARU could say no to $50 million, when we've got so many players overseas that they could potentially entice back," Cowan said.
"To try to get that quality back here with only four teams - I don't understand how that's meant to work."
Cowan will line up in a powerful Perth Spirit squad in Sunday's clash with Melbourne Rising in Perth.
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