Lock Daniel Ramsay is seeking a release from his Otago contract, joining a lengthening list of players who have left the union in the past six months.
Ramsay, who turns 28 next month, is believed to have picked up a contract in France for next season.
He will play his last game for the Zingari-Richmond club today.
Otago Rugby Football Union change manager Jeremy Curragh said Ramsay's manager had asked for a release from his contract and the union was working through the process at the moment.
Curragh said the issue was likely to come to a conclusion in the next few days.
Ramsay was a member of this year's Highlanders wider training squad and made his debut for Otago last year, playing nine games.
Otago still has locks Tom Donnelly, Tom Franklin and Rob Verbakel on contract. Verbakel is due back in Otago shortly, after playing a season for the Glasgow Warriors.
Ramsay joins the likes of prop James McGougan, flanker Regan Tamihere and midfield backs Sam Giddens and Ben Atiga in leaving the province after playing just one season.
Meanwhile, Curragh said there had been a good level of interest in people applying to sit on the ORFU board.
Applications closed yesterday and a selection panel would interview the applicants in the next 10 days.
He said applicants came from right across New Zealand, though the majority were from Otago. He declined to say the exact number of applicants.
The selection board is chaired by Bob Field, the NZRU representative, and hopes to appoint the new board by May 15.
But Curragh said yesterday this timetable may be too tight, as it was dependant on applicants all being available for interviews.
The board would number six, down from 11.
