Sebastien Chabal's next port of call is still ambiguous © Getty Images

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News: Chabal set for Super Rugby switch?

Players/Officials: Sebastien Chabal

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby

Teams: Australia

Australia's Super Rugby franchises have distanced themselves from reports Sebastien Chabal is set to take his bow in the Southern Hemisphere competition.

The French No.8 announced on Tuesday that he was to continue his rugby career in Australia after departing from Racing Metro, but reports in the Sydney Morning Herald claim that Chabal looks likely to be turning out for Balmain in Sydney's second division suburban competition rather than on the premier Southern Hemisphere stage.

Chabal told French radio station RMC on Tuesday: ''I will tell you a little secret, I will play in Australia soon. That's all I can tell you today. For now, no more information. Neither the identity of a club, or duration of contract or even the nature of the championship.''

While reports suggested Chabal would turn out in Super Rugby, Balmain president Warren Livingstone suggested he had recruited the former Racing Metro and Sale man saying: ''We looked for the biggest profile player in the world and that's Chabal.'

"We contacted them [Racing Metro} in December about him coming over to play some games in between when the French season finished and when the new one started. I sold him on seeing Australia in between the games."

The Australian Super Rugby franchises have all distanced themselves from Chabal with Reds boss Ewen McKenzie denying having signed the back-row on Twitter and Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan telling the newspaper that he had not secured the former Sale man.

A spokesman for the Western Force also claimed that they had not signed Chabal while the Waratahs have already filled their quota of overseas players with Sarel Pretorious. And the Rebels also stated on their Twitter account that supporters should not believe the rumours that they had secured his signature.

Meanwhile, back in France, reports suggest that Stade Francais are chasing the No.8's signature.