Manu Tuilagi will be free to play for England at the World Cup in Japan despite being on the verge of completing a $3.8 million three-year deal to join the French Top 14 side Racing 92.
It is understood the proposed contract – worth $1.26m a season – will start in December, to allow the Leicester centre to comply with the Rugby Football Union's selection criteria of only picking English-based players.
The Rugby World Cup runs from September 20 to November 2 and as Tuilagi would not technically be at an overseas club during that period, it is understood he would not be in breach of the professional game agreement between the RFU and Premiership clubs.
It is thought that the move is not yet over the line, but Leicester appear to be resigned to losing the 27-year-old, despite being prepared to offer a new deal worth over $956,000 per year.
Tuilagi visited Racing's training centre in Paris last week, two days after helping England defeat France in the Six-Nations match at Twickenham.
The move would see Tuilagi turn his back on his England career after the World Cup despite having worked so hard to win back his starting place this season after six years because of a long run of injuries.
A French source also warned the move would leave Tuilagi at risk of being left without an employer if he picked up an injury in Japan, as he would have to pass a Ligue Nationale de Rugby medical before his contract starts.
Former Ireland captain Paul O'Connell suffered a similar fate when he was unable to complete a move to Toulon from Munster after picking up a hamstring injury during the 2015 World Cup, and instead retired from the game.
There are also concerns about Tuilagi's ability to cope with the physical demands, given the unrelenting, attritional nature of the French Top 14 schedule.
Eddie Jones, the England head coach, said he would not be attempting to intervene in order to persuade Tuilagi to remain in the Premiership to prolong his test career. "That is not my job," said Jones.
"I don't decide what he does for his family. Every player has a family situation they have got to look after and I want them to look after their families. He is in our family at the moment and we want him to play well for us; that is our only concern right now.
"We just have fun about it. Give him baguettes, croissants, wear berets. Good fun. He's got to make a decision and what decision he makes will be up to him. He is a massively important part of our team.
"The guys like playing with him, they love him. He loves playing with the team and that is his only concern at the moment. As long as he doesn't get on the Eurostar between now and Saturday I've got no comment on it, because all I'm worried about is Saturday."