Pocock to become richest rugby star?

Cape Town - Australia star David Pocock's future is up in the air as he is weighing his options regarding his career.

The loose forward is considering a one-year sabbatical from Australian rugby to study in the UK, but his decision has been made tougher with Wasps offering the 27-year-old a lucrative multi-million-dollar deal.

Pocock could become the highest paid rugby player in the world if he puts pen to paper with the English side, and the signing would see him surpass World Cup winner Dan Carter as the world's best paid player.

The Telegraph reported that the Premiership club have contacted Pocock's representatives with a package in excess of the £1.4 million ($Aus2.82 million) a season that Racing 92 are paying Carter.

Wallabies head coach Michael Chieka and his team are trying to keep the breakdown specialist in Australia, and said that Pocock's up-front approach to negotiation had helped fast-track the process.

"I've been really happy, Brian Levine, his manager, and David have been straight with us from day one," Cheika said at the Super Rugby launch on Wednesday.

"That's given us a really nice, simple target to try to achieve.

"We'll put our best package forward to try to have him play rugby here.

"He's obviously going to get massive offers overseas because clubs are loaded and he's one of the best players in the world.

"He's a smart guy, he'll make the right choice."