Saracens star Will Skelton confirms to Rugby Australia he isn't coming home

Will Skelton has confirmed to Rugby Australia officials that he won't be returning to Australia in the wake of Saracens' salary cap scandal.

Hopes were high throughout Australia that the 18-test Wallabies second rower would be lured back Down Under to resume his Super Rugby and international career as the reigning English and European champions have been forced to offload a number of players before spending next season in the RFU Championship.

However, reports coming out of France suggest that a move to the Top 14 to take up a two-year deal with La Rochelle appears imminent.

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RA tried to recruit Skelton back from England ahead of last year's World Cup after he left the Waratahs and Wallabies for Allianz Park in 2017.

The 27-year-old was happy to stay in Europe, though, but that didn't prevent the governing body of Australian rugby from attempting to re-sign Skelton once again in the midst of the Saracens salary cap drama.

Such a move would allow him to represent the Wallabies, something he can't do from overseas as he doesn't meet the 60-cap threshold for offshore-based players.

Australia's director of rugby Scott Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald last month that the organisation was in talks with Skelton about a return to his homeland, and that he was confident in closing in on a deal.