WARATAHS captain Michael Hooper says he’s “disappointed” to lose valued teammate Kurtley Beale after the star centre signed a $1.45m-a-year deal with English club Wasps.

Though NSW coach Daryl Gibson said reports of Beale becoming the highest paid player in England were “unconfirmed”, the Daily Telegraph can confirm that the 27-year-old put pen to paper on a contract this week.

The two-year deal has, in fact, been agreed upon for well over a month but Michael Cheika had been pushing hard to convince Beale to change his mind prior to finalising the paperwork.

Kurtley Beale is on the move. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Corp Australia

The uncertainty led to Wasps approaching Leigh Halfpenny as a back-up option but it is understood the Welsh fullback will leave Toulon and go back to Cardiff.

Beale has decided to stick with the record contract that sees him rocket to the top of the list of top earners in the Aviva Premiership, above Manu Tuilagi and Louis Picamoles. Beale will re-unite with former Rebels teammate Danny Cipriani at Wasps.

He remains eligible for the Wallabies under the 60-cap “Giteau Law” and has said he will stick his hand up for Test duty when called upon.

Preparing to play the Bulls tomorrow night at Allianz Stadium, the Waratahs were taken by surprise by the Beale news this morning.

Gibson said he had not spoken to his playmaker about his contract developments and was still hopeful he would stay.

“I can’t add anything than what I know and that is he is undecided,” Gibson said.

Australian Wallabies player Kurtley Beale models the 2016 jersey. Source: Getty Images

Hooper was also not aware of Beale’s decision but said he’d be sad to not be able to play with him for the Tahs next season.

“I am happy for him as an individual, the ability to make those decisions is all part of rugby. But for me selfishly, disappointing, because I love playing with Kurtley,” Hooper said.

“I love having him in the environment. Hopefully I will be able to play with him more in the future.”

Both Hooper and Gibson said the Waratahs would not be able to replace the unique talents of Beale.

“You can’t replace Kurtley Beale. You get something different, and that’s with rugby what we will be chasing. At the Waratahs we will want someone to step up and put their own individual flavour on it,” Hooper said.

Gibson said he was confident that while no-one could fill Beale’s shoes, another good player would emerge.

Kurtley Beale in action for the Waratahs. Source: Getty Images

“I would say it be very difficult (to replace him), someone of his form and his standing in the game as an international, it is going to be very difficult. But I have always seen in my career and my experience that if a good player leaves, it’s not long before a new player emerges and takes the opportunity,” Gibson said.

“While Kurtley is a unique player and his skill set is unique in the team, that the team will grow, someone else will pop up and we will get through it.”

The Waratahs are not concerned Beale will be distracted by the contract talk today, given he is in career-best form this season while the Wasps talk has been swirling around him.

With Beale potentially able to return to Australia in mid-2018, Gibson also said his loss would not need be seen as permanent.

“It is not terminal,” he said.

“The 60-game rule with the wallabies, he is still available to Australian rugby. In my experience a player goes overseas and experiences a different kind of rugby and it all adds to creating a really well-rounded rugby player.”