South African Fourie du Preez and New Zealand's Andy Ellis loom as early candidates to fill the hole left by Nic White, who is set to sign a three-year deal with Montpellier and leave Australian rugby at the end of the year.

The Brumbies are also fighting to retain their off-contract Wallabies representatives, with overseas clubs circling and ready to pounce on players willing to move their careers abroad.

Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is locked in negotiations with several key players, including World Cup hopefuls Scott Fardy, David Pocock, Tevita Kuridrani, Sam Carter and Ben Alexander about staying in Canberra beyond the end of the year.

News of White's departure is a blow less than a month before the start of the Super Rugby season, but Larkham said he did not fear an exodus after the World Cup.

"Whitey is a unique case in that he's gone overseas while he's fairly young," said World Cup-winner Larkham.

"There's still some significant negotiations to go with the guys off contract, but I have spoken to all of them and verbally they are all very keen to stay.

"But negotiations can take months. We'll continue to battle away, but we're not expecting a mass exodus from the team."

Kuridrani will attract interest from Europe after a breakout year with the Wallabies, while Pocock is coming back after two knee reconstructions.

Fardy has been a late bloomer in Super Rugby, while Alexander has been in a regular in Wallabies squads for the past six years.

In the past, France and Japan have been viewed as retirement havens for Australia's best players, with rich clubs prepared to offer big money for players in the twilight of their career.

But White, 24, bucks the trend and is part of a new generation of Australian talent willing to put their Wallabies careers on the back burner to take up opportunities abroad.

The Brumbies have begun searching for a replacement for White, including Springbok champion du Preez and Ellis, whose Canterbury Crusaders contract expires at the end of the year.

Larkham and Brumbies playmaker Matt Toomua, who turned down overseas offers last year to re-sign with the Brumbies, are adamant the Wallabies jersey is still the No. 1 prize in Australia.

"I'm Nic's friend first and foremost," Toomua said, "and to not see him play for the Brumbies next year is a little bit sad, but at the same time you see the reasons why and the things at play.

"The Wallabies jersey still takes precedence for everyone. So many youngsters could earn more money overseas, but they don't want to.

"There comes a time when it's the correct decision for people. But the Wallabies jersey is still on the mantle."

Larkham was disappointed to lose White, but the Brumbies believe it further enhances the club's reputation for producing world-class players.

White is set to link with former Brumbies coach Jake White and captain Ben Mowen, while Matt Giteau, Peter Kimlin, George Smith, Anthony Hegarty and mentor Laurie Fisher are now based in Europe.

"There is a new era of Australian rugby under Michael Cheika," Larkham said. "I think the boys appreciate playing for Australia more than they have in the past.

"The lure of big money in France is always going to be there and we won't be able to match that. But playing in the best competition in the world is certainly a lure and I think Super Rugby is the best competition in the world.

"It's a constant cycle of rugby. You negotiate contracts 365 days of the year, that process will never change and players will move on after the World Cup. The beauty of rugby is that you get to travel around the world.

"There is still the prestige of playing for your country, but everything lined up for Nic to take this chance."

OFF-CONTRACT BRUMBIES

David Pocock, Tevita Kuridrani, Scott Fardy, Ben Alexander, Sam Carter, Jesse Mogg, Robbie Coleman, Ruan Smith, Josh Mann-Rea.