The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has confirmed that Wallaby flank Rocky Elsom will be granted an early release, on compassionate grounds, from an ARU contract due to expire on December 31.

Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill said Elsom approached the ARU earlier this season and agreement has been reached for the 25-year-old to leave Australia when the Tri-Nations series ends in September, to take up a deal with Irish side Leinster.

"It would be inappropriate for us to comment further on the conversations we have had with Rocky," O'Neill said.

"He took us into his confidence and this remains a confidential matter between Rocky and the ARU.

"What we can say is that we have offered Rocky valuable advice moving forward.

"We also factored into the equation that not giving him this assistance, in the form of an early release, meant we could have lost him to Australian Rugby permanently.

"As it stands now, we hope to have Rocky back in Australia by the middle of next year."

Elsom was keen to be available for the Wallabies during their year-end tour to Europe in November, while based in Ireland.

O'Neill, however, said ARU policy would prohibit Elsom's selection.

"Players based overseas are ineligible for Wallabies selection," he said.

"There is no intention of relaxing that stance."

He also stressed the Elsom situation was not a case of rubber-stamping a "convenient" sabbatical for a leading player.

"This was a specific request and we looked at all the factors involved," O'Neill said.

"We want our best players playing in Australia.

"It is important to our game at all levels to have the Wallabies wearing the jumpers of our Super Rugby and Test teams and, on occasions, our club sides.

"While we will miss Rocky on the year-end tour, he could be back playing again with the Qantas Wallabies next season."

365