Waratahs No.10 Bernard Foley is believed to be joining Hill in Japan after the World Cup on a two-season deal with the Ricoh Black Rams, where the three-time Shute Shield-winning coach has been since last year.

It would be second time lucky for Hill, who had secured Foley's signature to play with the Rebels for last year in one of the recruitment coups of the season, before Waratahs coach Michael Cheika convinced the then-rookie Wallaby to wriggle out of the deal and stay at NSW.

The Rebels and Hill were forced to accept the situation and could only watch as Foley went on to make his Test debut in the 2013 Rugby Championship.

Hill was moved on from the Rebels after two challenging seasons in charge, and took up the head coaching role at the Black Rams, who are based in Tokyo.

It was from there he mounted the second push for his target, who was by now a Super Rugby title-winner and the incumbent Wallabies No.10.

Then-Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie gave the move his seal of approval, and even helped broker an agreement for the 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medal-winning sevens player to link up with the men's sevens program for the 2016 Olympics campaign.

But McKenzie's departure six months ago and Cheika's subsequent move into the Wallabies' top job once again threatened best-laid plans.

Cheika scotched the Olympics idea – the men's team is still yet to qualify – and made sure the Waratahs and Wallabies remained Foley's first home.

That the 25-year-old has been able to agree a two-season stint in Japan within a three-year commitment to the ARU is an important victory for the player. While realists about the need for flexible contracting, the Australian Rugby Union want to keep the overseas jaunts to a one-season limit.

Foley said he was confident he was not putting his form at risk by signing up to play two years of continuous rugby. There are strict regulations governing how foreign players can be used in the Top League, meaning many are used as impact players off the bench.

"Every day we're logging in about our welfare, we've got monitors on our back saying how many metres we run," he said. 

"The responsibility comes down to myself as well, putting myself in the right position and looking after myself to get through the workloads that are going to be required."

Meanwhile, the Waratahs will play damaging South African back rower Jacques Potgieter off the bench against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday. Pat McCutcheon will start at No. 6 as one of three changes to the NSW starting line up.

Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper will start at No.13 for the first time since round four and Peter Betham comes in on the right wing for Taqele Naiyaravoro, who is grounded over a visa issue.

Waratahs: Israel Folau, Peter Betham, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper, Pat McCutcheon, Dave Dennis (c), Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Benn Robinson. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Jeremy Tilse, Paddy Ryan, Mitchell Chapman, Stephen Hoiles, Brendan McKibbin, Matt Carraro, David Horwitz, Jed Holloway (two to be omitted).