At this stage it appears Toomua is committed to the coming season at Welford Road and will not link up with the Rebels until the latter part of the 2019 season. It means the 28-year-old could wear a Wallabies jersey again before he wears a Melbourne jersey, with this year's November internationals on the cards.

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It is a coup for the Wallabies and Rebels. Michael Cheika has battled to find a back-up for Test No.10 Bernard Foley. Kurtley Beale and Reece Hodge filled the role in this year's June series against Ireland, but Beale is Cheika's first choice at No.12 while Hodge is a well-credentialed utility option.

In Melbourne, coach Dave Wessels has used Hodge at five-eighth and Jack Maddocks at fullback when Dane Haylett-Petty has been injured.

Maddocks is also well and truly in Cheika's plans, but Toomua's experience honed over 33 Tests in the gold jersey would be attractive to the Wallabies coach in the cauldron of a World Cup. He was used off the bench in Australia's crucial 2015 World Cup pool matches against England and Wales, as well as in the semi-final and final. Toomua also has a long history with Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham, who coached him at the Brumbies.