Is Gasnier France-bound?

St George Illawarra star Mark Gasnier is seriously considering quitting the Dragons to play rugby union in France.

Gasnier rocked the Saints camp when he confirmed on Sunday night that he may activate a clause in his contract enabling him to leave the club at the end of the year.

It's believed the Kangaroos centre and his French-born girlfriend are keen to leave Australia and live in Europe, with a number of French rugby union clubs eager to sign one of rugby league's biggest names.

A guarded Gasnier rejected questions on his future at the post-match press conference following the Dragons' 19-18 loss to Parramatta on Sunday, but later opened up on the subject inside the St George Illawarra dressing room.

"I've explored options over there, yeah," he said when asked whether he was considering a move to France.

"Don't put it in as if I'm trying to get out of my contract."

"I've been confronted with a situation I've had to react to and I'm doing it in my best interests."

"I can only be vague because I'm not one to pinpoint names, things, whatever it is."

"It's definitely not ill-feeling between the club and I and I want the fans to know that."

Pressed for more detail, Gasnier added: "It's not me going out there looking for it."

"Something happened and I've gone and looked. I'm not going to say the exact situation and make a whole circus of this thing."

"I don't want it to be a deja vu of what happened two years ago (a possible move to union) - I don't think it's fair on the club, I don't think it's fair on everyone."

"I know it's going to cause speculation."

St George Illawarra CEO Peter Doust, who signed off on Gasnier's last contract, admitted his star player's possible departure had left him in shock.

"I'm stunned like most people. The circumstance has arisen in recent times," Doust said.

"It's surprising for me and the club. We'll make sure we explore it as thoroughly as we can on the club's behalf."

"We want him to be here and we want him to be a Dragons man, as he does as well."

"Gaz is contracted until 2011 and I'll be doing the best I can to get him to fulfil that contract."

"In saying that, there is a clause in his contract which enables him to make decisions on a yearly basis about the subsequent terms of the contract as in years."

"That's there for a reason I'm not prepared to comment on."