AUSTRALIA head coach Michael Cheika claims the Wallabies couldn’t “compete with Worcester” for centre Ben Te’o.

Te'o has spent two seasons at Leinster since switching codes in 2014 and will join Aviva Premiership Warriors upon his return from national duty with England.

Cheika has revealed he tried to persuade Te'o to join a Super Rugby team, thus making him eligible for Wallabies selection, but lacked the financial muscle to compete with Worcester.

"I spoke a fair bit to Ben before he went over to Leinster because it's my old club,” said Cheika. “We talked about footie.

"He was always going to make it because of his attitude towards the game. He wasn't pressured by a lot of fanfare, either. He just went over there and got things done.

"We would have been keen to have him back in Australia but clubs over there have too much money.”

Cheika added: "It's hard and shows a bit of the divide around where the money is in rugby when we as a national team can't compete with Worcester for a player.

"He would have been back in Super Rugby but I'm not saying he would have been in this squad.

"We wanted him back to play Super Rugby, with a view to having that depth with him becoming available for selection.”