Will Genia's playing future is shrouded in uncertainty after the Wallabies halfback secured a release from the final year of his contract in Paris - but with seemingly nowhere in Australia to go.
Genia on Tuesday said Stade Francais had given him the all clear to leave after two seasons, with the 29-year-old desperate to return home to the Queensland Reds.
The 76-Test stalwart has earned all 114 of his Super Rugby caps with Queensland since debuting in 2007 and played a starring role in the Reds' 2011 premiership win.
He said last week that he would only return to Australia if he could play with the Reds and that he was hopeful of agreeing to terms in the near future.
While acknowledging Genia as a world-class No.9, a Reds spokesman told AAP "the club never discusses issues relating to player contracts".
With the Reds already having three halfbacks on their books and with most positions in their 30-man 2018 roster filled, it's understood Genia - who commanded a reported $700,000 a season in Europe - would need to take a massive pay cut.
The homesick former Wallabies captain appears to have taken a major gamble in an effort to return home to Brisbane and will be relying on considerable top-up money from the ARU.
The cash-strapped governing body, though, is believed to be in no rush to open the purse strings, with Genia already eligible to play for the Wallabies from an overseas club following last year's introduction of "Giteau's Law" - where players can turn out for Australia from overseas provided they have 60 Test Caps and seven Super Rugby seasons behind them.
The ARU on Tuesday said it was aware of Genia's release from Stade Francais, but as yet had no official position on the matter.
Genia is expected to earn his 77th Test cap this weekend against Scotland after starting in Australia's season-opening international last weekend against Fiji.
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