YORK City Knights appear resigned to losing loan star Junior Vaivai for good - with the American international now heavily tipped for a move to Championship rivals Toulouse Olympique.

Vaivai quickly became a crowd favourite at Bootham Crescent when scoring three tries and skilfully setting up six more in three appearances on loan from Hull KR.

However, while he appears to be edging ever closer to a permanent exit from Craven Park as the Robins make room for the signing of Leeds Rhinos hooker Matt Parcell, York does not look like being his destination.

Negotiations between the Knights, Vaivai's representatives and Hull KR had continued following the end of the 29-year-old's month-long loan stint in an effort to extend his stay in the Minster city.

But rugby league trade papers have reported that Toulouse and Leigh, both with deeper pockets than the Knights, are now the front runners for his signature, and The Press understands the French outfit are the most likely to soon announce his arrival.

Rovers are reportedly keen to bring in Parcell in a swap deal that would see fellow hooker Shaun Lunt return to Leeds.

However, to do so they need to free up an overseas quota spot, with New Zealand-born centre Vaivai the most obvious candidate to make way.

The Knights, meanwhile, brought in former England Academy captain Cam Scott on loan from Hull FC last week and, while they said then that Vaivai still remained a target too, the teenager is a like-for-like replacement at centre - and indeed scored a try on an encouraging debut in Sunday's league win at Swinton Lions.