NRL clubs were put on high alert yesterday after chief executive David Gallop cleared the way for Mark Gasnier to play rugby league between rugby union contracts.

Gasnier's deal with French rugby union side Stade Francais is due to expire in May and the former NSW and Australian rugby league centre has opened talks with the Australian Rugby Union with a view to joining either the Queensland Reds or Melbourne Rebels.

Should that happen, Gasnier's contract with the ARU would not begin until next year. That would create a window between the expiration of his Stade Francais deal and the start of his ARU contract -- which Gasnier could use to maintain his match fitness by playing in the NRL.

Aware of the situation, several NRL clubs have already expressed an interest in talking to him, and Gallop indicated he would not stand in the way if the ex-St George Illawarra star decided to make a fleeting return to league.

"I would be surprised if rugby union would be happy to put him at risk of injury in a rugby league game while under contract to them.

"Certainly if we were the proposed rugby union club, we wouldn't allow it."

Gasnier was one of the NRL's premier players -- as well as a fixture in the NSW and Australian sides -- before opting to take up a lucrative deal in French rugby union.

As one league club official said yesterday: "Everybody would be interested. You could have injuries or anything at that time of year, you're coming into State of Origin. He's a class player."

With Stade Francais languishing in eighth place, Gasnier's Top 14 in Europe commitments could be over by the end of April, meaning he would miss at worst the opening seven rounds of the NRL competition.

The only potential snag is the Heineken Cup. Stade Francais is still in contention, although that could end when the Parisian side plays Toulouse in a quarter-final on April 11.

However, should Stade Francais qualify for the final of the Heineken Cup on May 22, Gasnier's return would be pushed back to the end of May. He would then be available from round 12.

If an NRL deal does come to fruition, St George Illawarra shapes as Gasnier's preferred option, given his history with the club.

Whatever happens, Gasnier's manager George Mimis said his client's priority was to secure a deal in rugby union before giving any thought to a return to the NRL, even on a short-term basis.

"As it stands, Mark Gasnier is a rugby union player," Mimis said.

"All our energies are focused on dialogue with his current club Stade Francais and the Australian Rugby Union." While most clubs would welcome Gasnier's return, the NRL's imprimatur has the potential to cause angst -- particularly at the Wests Tigers, given that five-eighth Benji Marshall was refused permission for a short stint in rugby union between NRL contracts.

Similarly, Lote Tuqiri's three-year deal with Wests Tigers will preclude him from playing rugby union once his stint with the Leicester Tigers is over.

However, Gallop insisted the situations could not be compared, given that Gasnier would be predominantly contracted to rugby union.

Kiwi Eagle said the following on Fri Feb 12 15:33 2010

Matai and Gasnier would be an awesome centre pairing, if they could get over the fact Matai laid him out in a test match haha Gasnier was 1 of the blokes I made a point of sitting down to watch every weekend, was a sensational player

Nate said the following on Fri Feb 12 14:02 2010

Gasnier would look good in maroon and white, and in sky blue again! He is still the best Centre i have seen in my time.

DSM5 said the following on Fri Feb 12 8:34 2010

Fire up Ryan.

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