Iestyn Harris may become a victim of WRU cost-cutting

Despite Harris looking set to be an integral part of Wales' World Cup campaign, the cash-strapped WRU may be happy to off-load him to save money.

Harris' union contract still has 18 months to run but allows him to play rugby league next summer in the union off-season - if he so chooses - with Leeds Rhinos having first refusal.

Harris made the switch to union in August 2001 from the Rhinos, in a deal believed to be worth more than �1.6 million.

BBC Wales' Scrum V programme has learnt that the WRU has held meetings about cutting its contribution to Harris' wages, although WRU chief executive David Moffett denies this.

That would leave the other contributor to the contract, which was Cardiff RFC and is now the Blues regional side, unlikely - and possibly unwilling - to make up the difference.

Finances are ruling decisions in the WRU Former dual-international Jonathan Davies

Should the WRU drastically cut his wages, Harris may be forced into a position where he will have to seriously consider offers from the 13-man code.

But there could also be interest from other union teams if the Blues won't shoulder the financial burden, with the Dragons side in Newport one possibility.

The 27-year-old is trying to distance himself from the speculation, but there is no doubt that several Super League clubs would jump at the chance of signing him.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm just looking forward to the World Cup and then getting back to Cardiff after the World Cup," Harris said.

"I've got a contract with Cardiff for the next two seasons and no immediate plans to do anything other than that."

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington admits that Leeds would love to have him back at Headingley, while the Bradford Bulls also confirmed an interest.

In his latest online column for BBC Sport, Harris says how excited he is to be going to the World Cup with Wales - one of the major reasons he switched codes.

Harris' mentor, former dual-code international Jonathan Davies, believes it would be a huge waste to allow Harris to go just as Wales are about to reap the benefits.

"Finances are ruling decisions in the WRU, it's very difficult to know what's going to happen with the state the WRU's finances are in," Davies said.

"We don't know whether the WRU will come up with another contract, or fulfill the existing contract.

"If they don't I'm sure rugby league would love to have him back, so it'll be a decision Iestyn will make himself, I suppose."

But Davies denied that the rumours would in any way harm Wales' chances in the World Cup, which kicks off for Steve Hansen's men against Canada on 12 October.

"Iestyn is a hardened professional and the speculation will not effect him or Wales while they're out in Australia," Davies added.