Toulon announce signing Wallaby star Quade Cooper, but Reds deny deal has taken palce

Toulon have announced the signing of Quade Cooper, but the Queensland Reds deny that the deal has been finalised.

The 27-year-old, who has won 53 caps for his country, will move to France this summer after eight years in Queensland, according to Toulon.

However Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael has denied that the deal has been finalised, after he met with Cooper on Friday.

"[We had] a great lunch - very happy that the time has allowed Quade and I to get close to a position that satisfies us both," Carmichael told AAP.

"There is more conversation to be had and this is the last time I'm commenting on this until our discussions are concluded."

Should the move go forward, it comes after the Australian Rugby Union announced a major change to its Test squad selection policy, which allows overseas-based Australia internationals who have played more than 60 Tests for the Wallabies and held a professional ARU contract for at least seven years to be available to head coach Michael Cheika.

By this ruling, Cooper will need to play seven more games before he moves to Europe in order to qualify for international selection, but he is currently injured and continuing his recovery from a broken shoulder-blade that he suffered playing for the Reds earlier this month.

Bernard Foley is expected to replace Cooper for Australia's World Cup campaign, which starts against Fiji in Cardiff on September 23.

Previously, all overseas-based players were ineligible to be picked - one player who stands to benefit from this change of heart is Matt Giteau, who Cooper will be linking up with at Toulon.

Toulon are chasing a hat-trick of European titles, with Giteau proving instrumental, and will play Clermont Auvergne in the final at Twickenham on May 2.

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