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Two big decisions await Gasnier
Burning desire: Marc Gasnier
Mark Gasnier is poised for a return to Australia later this month - but only to tie the knot with his fiancée.
It is no secret that the former St George Illawarra man has been eyeing a spot in Robbie Deans' 2011 World Cup squad, which would make a playing move back to his country of birth vital.
Gasnier is rumoured to be an ideal signing for new Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels when his Paris deal expires at the season's end.
Yet his manager George Mimis has decided to keep a lid on any talks at the current stage.
"It's obviously quite public knowledge that he's off contract at about June this year and we're reticent to comment publicly on any discussions," said Mimis, speaking to AAP.
"Hopefully by the end of quarter one (March), we'll be in the position to do so.
"We've moved the goal-posts on the January date."
It is expected the Gasnier would be forced to take a pay cut from his bumper Top 14 salary if the proposed return to Australia went ahead.
But Mimis has hinted that the versatile 28-year-old's hunger to pull on the Wallaby jersey is an aching goal that would outweigh financial matters.
"I think it's fair to say that Mark has a burning desire to succeed at the highest level in whatever sport he's playing in," he said.
"If you pose the question to him is he interested in being a Wallaby, I'm sure it would be an emphatic yes, however there are commercial realities to consider .. and that's what we're doing."
Meanwhile, High Performance Unit General Manager David Nucifora has admitted that the Australian Rugby Union had been in contact with Gasnier, although it was premature to say whether contract negotiations had taken place.
"If a player like Mark wanted to come home, we'd be very happy to see him come home and continue his rugby career here, he's certainly got our support from the rugby side of things," Nucifora said.
"We'd like to see him come back to be in with Melbourne or one of the other Super rugby teams.
"I'm sure he's looking at the opportunities that exist here for him and that's where players, be it Mark or anyone else, have got to decide whether they're going to back themselves to be good enough to make it."
