Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins heads to Japanese rugby

The Wallabies and Western Force have lost a crowd favourite with rugby cult hero Nick Cummins signing to play in Japan next year.

Nicknamed the Honey Badger, the wild-haired, knockabout winger has reportedly been granted a release from the final year of his Australian Rugby Union contract to play with the Coca Cola West Red Sparks.

With the lucrative Japanese deal, Cummins will miss next year's World Cup and it almost certainly ends his hopes of adding to his 15 Test caps in the Rugby Championship.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has shown he will only select players who will be available for the global showpiece tournament in England.

Cummins, 26, started all three Tests in the clean sweep of France last month but would have been under pressure to keep his position once Joe Tomane returned from a facial fracture and Fijian Henry Speight became eligible in September.

Cummins is set to return from a neck injury for the Force against the Queensland Reds at Perth's nib Stadium on Saturday night.

NZN