- Bath are confident of convincing centre Ollie Lawrence to stay at The Rec
- A move for Sione Tuipulotu is off with the Scotland captain re-signing for Glasgow
Bath are optimistic that England centre Ollie Lawrence will agree terms to stay at The Rec after this season – following speculation that he was set to move on.
Mail Sport understands that the player is in talks with his West Country employers and while a deal has not been finalised yet, Bath are not thought to be contingency planning for the loss of Lawrence.
Prior to the recent Autumn Nations Series, it had been suggested that last year’s beaten Premiership finalists were lining up a move for new Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, but he re-signed with Glasgow after being handed the Test leadership role.
Lawrence moved to Bath at short notice after the collapse of Worcester – where he came through the ranks – in 2022 and he was an instant hit, so much so that he earned an international recall at the start of the 2023 Six Nations.
Months later, he went on to be named Premiership Player of the Year, as deserved recognition for his rampaging exploits on behalf of his new club.
Since Manu Tuilagi’s Test retirement, Lawrence has become a fixture in England’s midfield, in partnership with Henry Slade. In late October, it was announced that the 25-year-old had been included among the first tranche of 17 players to be awarded new Enhanced EPS (central) contracts by the RFU, as core figures in the national set-up.
Ollie Lawrence has become a mainstay in the midfield for both Bath and England
Bath Director of Rugby Johann van Graan will be thrilled to hold on to the centre
Bath had been eying up Sione Tuipulotu but the Scotland captain has re-signed for Glasgow
England head coach Steve Borthwick has scope to eventually allocate up to 25 such deals and he is understood to be using the new system to try to entice some France-based players back to the Premiership.
One target is Junior Kpoku, the Racing 92 lock who was a key part of England Under 20s’ junior World Cup triumph, but reports in France have suggested that he has agreed terms to stay in Paris until 2027 and, in theory, he can qualify on residency to play for France from 2026.
George Ford is another current England player coming out of contract at the end of the season. There were rumours across the Channel that the 98-cap veteran was on the verge of signing for Clermont Auvergne – who were believed to be among a cluster of Gallic suitors – but they proved unfounded. Instead, he is poised to open talks about extending his stay at Sale, having also earned one of the 17 Enhanced EPS contracts.
Borthwick allocated those coveted deals, worth approximately £160,000 per year, to three fly-halves – the others being the two Smiths, Marcus and Fin. But only one scrum-half – Alex Mitchell – and one prop – Ellis Genge – were included on the list.
