ANDY FARRELL, the Great Britain rugby league captain, held talks with Saracens this week over a possible move to Vicarage Road.

The decorated Wigan star outlined his desire to make the cross-code switch and, along with his two representatives, Simon Cohen and Andy Clarke, listened to the Saracens blueprint in a two-hour meeting with head coach Steve Diamond and chief executive Mark Sinderberry at the club headquarters in Rigby House, Watford on Tuesday.

Farrell, who has also held talks with Leicester, Northampton and Bath, met up with Andy Robinson later that day where the England head coach recommended Welford Road as his favoured destination for a player he is grooming for the 2007 World Cup. But Farrell is understood to have been hugely impressed by Diamond's vision, and a decision is expected in the next fortnight.

"He is a world class player," said Diamond, who oversaw Jason Robinson's seamless transition from the 13-man game during his time at Sale. "People are making too much of what position he is going to play he is one of those few players in the world who doesn't need a number on his back. Whether he players number eight or centre is neither here no there, he is a world class kicker, tackler, leader and decision maker and the chance to sign those sort of players does not come around too often."

The fact that Diamond and his assistant, Mike Ford, both hail from the north and that Ford, a former Great Britain international himself, is so highly-regarded in rugby league circles could also help lure Farrell to Watford.

Should Sarries land Farrell it would represent a sensational coup.

Farrell is regarded as one of the most talented and inspirational players of his generation and has lifted ever major honour in the domestic game, culminating in the prestigious International Player of the Year in 2004.

He has appeared in 34 consecutive tests for Britain since his debut in 1993 and, after being handed the Great Britain captaincy aged 21 in 1996, has gone on to lead his country a record 29 times. An accomplished goal kicker, he is Super League's highest points scorer with 2,228 and has amassed a staggering 2,870 points in his 11 seasons with Wigan.

Sinderberry was understandably excited about the chance to bring a player of Farrell's pedigree to Vicarage Road but, mindful of some of the catastrophic signings the club has made in the past, tempered any possible move with a sense of caution.

"He is a very impressive individual and has a tremendous presence," said the chief executive. "You are talking about one of the finest players in the game and what he has achieved in rugby league is fantastic. In terms of the discussion we are very interested but it is not a decision we will rush into as there are a lot of factors to consider."

One of the major stumbling blocks is likely to be Farrell's wages. With the Rugby Football Union set to pick up around £150,000 of his anticipated £250,000 a year salary as well as providing Wigan with sizeable compensation on a contract that still has two years to run, that would leave a Zurich Premiership club to pay £100,000 a season for player who turns 30 in May and is unproven in the 15-man game.

In addition, Farrell is also recovering from the knee injury he picked up in the depressing Tri-Nations Final defeat against Australia at Elland Road and is unlikely to play again this season.

However, Sarries took a similar gamble on Tevita Vaikona, albeit on considerably reduced wages, when the buccanering wing arrived from Bradford Bulls earlier in the season having undergone surgery on a torn cruciate ligament and the move paid off.

"I'm a great fan of the skills and development of rugby league, particularly in the last five years where the game has come on leaps and bounds," added Sinderberry.

"If anything the catching and pass skills are better than those in rugby union."