MURRAY Roeske is leaving Basingstoke after receiving an offer to play in America.

The 25-year-old centre, who arrived in town just over two months ago, leaves Basingstoke on Thursday for his new challenge across the pond in New York.

Basingstoke director of rugby Ian Calder said: "Us getting relegated played a part in his decision, but he's said he will keep in contact and may return to the UK.

"He fitted the bill this year, but next season we may have other options. We'll just have to see. It's worth keeping in touch, though."

Calder made the decision to drop fellow Kiwi Roeske from yesterday's Hampshire Cup final squad.

He said: "If it was a league game, he would have played.

"I'm not saying the final isn't as important, because it is a big occasion for the club and we want to win it.

"But we've three league games to go after the final and we've got to try to get a good centre pairing in place.

"I explained this to Murray. He was gutted to miss out on the final, but I had to look at the situation objectively as a coach."

Versatile Calder himself moved to centre, from his customary fly-half role, for the final.

He explained: "Elimon Chimbina is out injured, Barry Kirwan is in Peterborough and now Murray's off, so we've lost three good centres.

"With me playing there, next to Simon Buckland, we can get 80 minutes together to build a partnership for the rest of the season."