Australia centre Jason Little, who is facing a massive downgrade of his lucrative contract, may be forced to play his rugby union in South Africa or England, where he could make more than £150,000 a season.

Little is anticipating a substantially lesser offer from the Australian Rugby Union than the estimated £220,000 a season he has been receiving since the ARU made him their key signing in the battle with the rebel World Rugby Corporation in 1995.

The ARU has re-signed international centre Daniel Herbert to a three-year deal and his Wallaby midfield partner Tim Horan will join him on the contracted list tomorrow.

It leaves 28-year-old Little with few guarantees from the ARU, which opens negotiations with him today.