REGAN Grace admits he is likely to miss rugby league's World Cup so his rugby union club is not left waiting.
That would also see him miss Wales' warm-up clash against Lebanon on October 8, which SunSport can reveal.
St Helens star Grace will head to French side Racing 92 at the end of the Super League season after they entered the race for his signature at a very late stage.
He is speaking with them about performing for his country in the Autumn's tournament but feels he would have missed too many matches by its end in November.
Grace said: “I’m weighing up now whether I can leave it that long to go. I’ll be missing matches already.
“I’m not entirely sure yet and I’ve spoken to Racing about it but I think I’ll probably have to miss the World Cup as I’ll be missing a month of games anyway.
“Being a proud Welshman, it would be disappointing but it’s just one of those things.”
Winger Grace, 25, played union as a kid in his hometown of Port Talbot before being picked up by St Helens after taking up the 13-a-side code.
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As his contract was winding down, it looked like being a straight choice between staying on or heading to England's Premiership.
But once the Paris giants came calling, his mind was turned towards the Top 14, which he watches regularly
Grace added: “Staying at Saints was pretty much where my head was at but Racing came in quite late and it was surprising.
“It was around the time we played Toulouse at the start of June they came in and it just went well. I had a few options in the English Premiership but it was hard to leave Saints, I wasn’t so keen on taking them really.
“I just wanted the challenge and the Top 14 is a league I’d like to play in and experience. I watch the Top 14 on TV and there’s lots of talent in it.
“And the good thing about Racing is they like to throw the ball around too, which suits me. The off-field change was a big part of my decision and speaking French is a challenge in itself."
Now his future is decided, Grace believes having a definitive end date is focussing his mind on a fourth straight Super League crown with Saints.
And as work continues tonight against Huddersfield, he believes the competition getting better only helps Kristian Woolf's men improve.
He told SunSport: “It’s good. I feel like I’m just ready to play now and I’ve got a finishing line for the job I want to do.
“Knowing my decision makes me more driven. It gives me a point to work to – four in a row wouldn’t be a mega way to sign off, it would be class.
“But people are trying to chase us down every week. That means we’ve got to be better and better, we can’t sit and be comfortable.”
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