The Queensland Reds have confirmed that openside flanker Liam Gill is leaving Queensland.
Gill has played 65 games for the Reds since debuting in 2011, touted as a future captain of the side, and has also played 15 Tests for the Wallabies.
The 23-year-old was one of the best in the 2015 Super Rugby competition but playing in a position in which the Wallabies enjoy incredible depth meant a national spot was hard to cement.
Even after a career-best year in 2015, Gill sat in a queue behind David Pocock, Michael Hooper and Sean McMahon when Wallabies flankers were considered.
Gill said it was not easy to leave the club where he has played for his entire Rugby career so far.
"It was a very difficult decision to leave the Reds but felt the time was right to challenge myself and play Rugby in a different environment," he said.
"I feel I have done as much as I can in Australian Rguby and now look to enjoy a new opportunity."
Reds executive general manager Daniel Herbert said having to farewell Gill would be difficult.
"It's disappointing to be losing Liam to an overseas club, but we understand he has weighed up his options and decided this was too good an opportunity to refuse.
"Liam is a talented player and someone who has made a great contribution to the Reds over the past six years after graduating from our elite pathways system.
"He has international aspirations but plays in a position in which Australia have significant depth and he felt he would have limited opportunities.
Gill is reportedly set to join Toulon, where a raft of Australians are already playin, including former Reds teammates Quade Cooper and James O'Connor.
He is the second Queensland Reds player to signal an intent to go overseas, after prop Greg Holmes, and follows the Brumbies Matt Toomua in committing to a deal in Europe.
The Reds play their second trial match on Friday night against the Brumbies at Ballymore.
