With an abundance of midfield talent blocking his path to a Wallaby jumper, NSW centre Nathan Grey knew it was time to take up a new challenge.

The 29-year-old has decided to make next year's Super 12 season his last in Australia and will head off for Japan at its completion to link up with club side Kyuden.

Grey failed to get a game for Australia in 2004 and missed out on the Wallabies' end-of-year tour to the northern hemisphere, with centres Matt Giteau, Elton Flatley, Stirling Mortlock and Drew Mitchell all selected ahead of the 34-Test veteran.

He was named in an additional squad to take part in an Australia A match against the French Barbarians, but was forced to pull out of that game and NSW's tour of Argentina after injuring his neck while playing for Manly in the Sydney club rugby finals.

With Mat Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Clyde Rathbone also mooted as centre prospects, Grey knew he'd struggle to again break into the Wallabies squad.

"I missed out on Wallabies selection this year, and the opportunity to play for Australia was probably slipping away a little bit for me," Grey said.

"I just think the timing's right to make a positive decision.

"I've been playing in Australia for eight years now and achieved a lot of the things that I wanted to do."

Those achievements include Australia's last two World Cup campaigns.

In 1999, he came off the bench to replace Tim Horan in the dying stages of Australia World Cup final win against France.

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