Wallabies Kurtley May Beale with Wasps

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Kurtley Beale is reportedly set to sign a record two-year deal worth A$2.7 million (Australian dollars) with the London Wasps, according to reports in the Daily Mail.

Such a deal is unlikely to be matched by the Australian Rugby Union even if Beale enters into a flexible deal which allows him to play in Japan.

It would make the Waratahs and Wallabies inside centre the highest-paid player in the English premiership, and the equal-highest paid Australian abroad along with Matt Giteau at Toulon.

Crucially, the 27-year-old – who has a troubled disciplinary record – would still be able to play for the Wallabies given he has now played 60 Tests for Australia.

The Wasps director of rugby Dai Young, while unwilling to discuss specific transfer negotiations, said: “You’ve got to do your own due diligence.

“You certainly don’t want to bring anyone into this environment who’s going to upset the apple cart with the players.

“I certainly don’t want to bring anyone here who won’t maintain the standards of what we expect of Wasps players and staff. I take my responsibilities very seriously on that.

“A lot of people make mistakes, and I’m sure me and you have made a few when we were younger. Some are more documented than others.

“But I’m confident anybody I bring into this environment I’ve done my homework on. What they’ve done in the past is the past.

“But I’m confident that any player who is in this environment will not reflect poorly on Wasps.”

Should Beale arrive, he will team up with the former England fly-half Danny Cipriani who will return to his first club from Sale next season.

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Pocock Wins Australian Sports Personality

David Pocock’s emergence as one of the most-influential rugby players in the world has earned him the title of Australian sports personality of 2015.

The Wallabies and Brumbies back-rower was bestowed the honour, voted by the public, at the AIS Sport Performance Awards on Wednesday night in Sydney.

Pocock’s outstanding feats helped put Australia within reach of the World Cup title last year, after what was a remarkable Super Rugby season with the Brumbies. It followed two years of pain and intense rehabilitation on serious knee injuries.

“It felt like a long time on the sidelines,” Pocock said after thanking his family, friends, team-mates and support staff in a video message. “It was a really enjoyable year last year and I had a lot of support from a number of people after a couple of years out.

“The goal was just to enjoy it and just to seek those little improvements every week and I think I did that. I think that was key for me.”

Pocock is off contract at the end of the season but is yet to announce his next move. There is speculation he could take a year off in 2017 to study in the UK.

The 27-year-old is widely admired for his work off the field, which he admits is a “bit of a juggling act” but essential. “It gives you a bit of a different headspace and a bit of time away from the game, which is really important to have that freshness and enjoyment when you do get down to training and playing,” he said.

Golfer Jason Day was awarded male athlete of the year after claiming his first major win at the 2015 US PGA Championship and elevation to world No1.

A dominant year in the pool earned swimmer Emily Seebohm the honour of female athlete of the year, while the Australian women’s netball team took out the publicly voted team of 2015.

The Diamonds, who won a third consecutive netball World Cup, also shared the team of the year award as chosen by an AIS panel of judges, alongside the Australian women’s cycling team pursuit who crushed the world record by almost three seconds at the 2015 track world championships.

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England Fiji Ready - Rowntree

England coach Graham Rowntree has insisted the pressure will be on Fiji when the teams meet in the opening game of the 2015 World Cup on Friday night.

Rowntree believes the combination of home advantage and England's big-game experience should help relax them and says they should embrace the "time of their lives".

Fiji are the dark horses in Pool A - a section that also includes Wales and Australia - meaning England cannot afford a slip-up in their opening game.

"There's a lot of talk about this word 'upset', but we've prepared well for this game," Rowntree said.

"For our guys, this is the time of their lives. They are on their own turf, in front of their families and friends, with potentially 15m people watching on TV, and 50m country-wide supporting them.

"The players are aware of that support, so which team is the pressure on? That's my question.

"We've been ready for a couple of weeks. We've trained exceptionally well. It's been a long three months and it's been a tough camp.

"We've had a good work-out against some great nations in France and Ireland in our warm-up games. The lads are fitter than they've ever been. I'm excited for them."

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Cooper Returns to McKenzie's Gold

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Quade Cooper returns to the Wallabies starting side at fly-half on his home turf against the Springboks at Lang Park on Saturday.

Israel Folau has been switched to full-back replacing Jesse Mogg who drops back to the bench.

Cooper replaces Brumbies rookie Matt Toomua after starting on the bench in the past two Test losses against the All Blacks.

It will be the first time Cooper has worn the number 10 jersey since the Wallabies defeated South Africa and Argentina in back-to-back Tests last September.

Coach Ewen McKenzie said he is anticipating the match against the Springboks will suit Cooper's game.

"Quade has been contributing well for us playing off the bench," McKenzie told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

"Looking at how I want to play this this game, he's ideally suited to start this game."

Cooper said his return to the starting side has shown that hard work pays off.

"You just have to continue to work hard," Cooper said.

"I've been in and around the team for a few weeks coming off the bench. Now that I've been given a role as starting number 10 it's very exciting but Matty [Toomua) and Foles [Bernard Foley] will continue to push each other for the position.'

"If you miss out you just have to continue to help out and push each other

McKenzie said he expects the Springboks' dominant kicking game to play into the hands of Folau who is proving one of the most dangerous ball runners in rugby.

"With a player of his running ability the more times he touches the ball the better it is," McKenzie said.

"We think they'll kick a lot. So if they kick, he gets his hands on the ball and that is good.

"Maybe they won't kick as much, we'll see."

Folau has played his first five Tests for the Wallabies on the wing and isn't fazed by moving into the number 15 jersey where he played most of the Super Rugby season for the Waratahs.

"I think it will be easier to slot into the line at full-back but I don't see too much of a different role.

"I have a lot of good players around me who can help me."

In other changes Nick Cummins of the Western Force has been selected on the wing for his sixth Test for the Wallabies.

Sekope Kepu moves into the starting side at prop after starting the past five Tests on the bench.

Queensland's Jake Schatz has the opportunity to make his Wallabies debut after being selected on the bench.

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