IT is one of the most famous rugby jerseys in the history of rugby and, sensationally, Queensland’s State of Origin star Ben Te’o is the man in line to take hold of the Leinster No.13 shirt worn by Brian O’Driscoll.

Sources in Ireland say Leinster is close to securing a deal for Te’o as an outside centre, replacing the retired O’Driscoll, who stepped down from professional rugby two weeks ago as the most decorated Irishman to have played the game.

Te’o confirmed last week that he would be leaving NRL club South Sydney at the end of the season, but added he had not made a decision on where he would play next.

Speculation has been rife for weeks that Te’o would switch to European rugby, but until now the belief has been that he would join a club in England, given his mother’s English heritage.

The looming move to Ireland’s powerhouse club quashes any notion that Te’o could be a contender for England’s 2015 World Cup squad. It is unclear whether Te’o has any Irish heritage that would make him eligible for their World Cup squad.

Leinster recently announced the signing of Wallaby lock Kane Douglas, bolstering their already international-laden roster that includes Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy, Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip.

Leinster won the four-nation Pro12 competition a fortnight ago, backing up their title win in 2013, with O’Driscoll given a rousing send-off at their home ground in Ballsbridge although it was a bittersweet moment.

A calf injury forced the champion off in just the eighth minute, and he watched from the sideline as his Leinster teammates swamped Glasgow 34-12, before he held aloft the trophy and was carried off the ground.

media_camera Brian O'Driscoll received a fitting send-off in Dublin.

O’Driscoll first wore the blue Leinster No.13 jersey in 1999 and represented the club in an extraordinary 180 top-flight matches.

He leaves enormous boots to fill for club and country.

Te’o recently revealed that he regularly cops abuse from NRL fans over an incident in which he was accused – and cleared – of injuring a woman.

The 27-year-old, who has played his best rugby league in the past two years, hinted that this treatment was part of his reasons for exploring opportunities abroad and in the rival code.

“I played the Dragons two nights ago and someone yelled something out from the crowd concerning it,” Te’o said 10 days ago.

“That is what I have got to live with, about you bashed (a woman). I cop it on social media.

“I am not saying it is consistent but I get it on social media.

“People yell it at games. If people only knew the facts. What you have got to realise is that I am not the only one who goes through this. My family goes through this too.

“I am still trying to figure [my future] out.

“You think about things, what is going to make you happy, where you want to go ... change can always be good.

“Whether that is a new code, whether that is a new club, a new beginning, I don’t know.

“Everyone is looking for happiness and that is all that is important in life.

“That is pretty much what I am looking for. I don’t know where I am going to find it.”

Te’o, one of Queensland’s best forwards in the Origin I loss to NSW, grew up playing union in New Zealand.

Leinster is coached by former Wallaby Matt O’Connor, who had a league background during his time as a player.

O’Connor was contracted to the Hunter Mariners in 1996, but because Super League was banned until the following year he only played a handful of trials before moving to Paris Saint-Germain where he played alongside representatives David Lomax and Tony Priddle, and scored 58 points in the Super League II competition.

Originally published as Leinster looms as Te’o eyes code switch