Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam is understood to be interested in signing Bath Rugby lock Fergus Lee-Warner.
Australian Lee-Warner, 28, initially joined Bath in September on a short-term loan from Worcester Warriors but when the club slipped into administration and were suspended from the Premiership, leading to staff being made redundant, he signed a contract to stay at the Rec for the rest of the 2022/23 season.
Since his arrival, the lock, who was something of an unknown quantity to most UK rugby fans having only moved to the country in the summer from Super Rugby AU side the Western Force, has quickly become a standout performer at Bath as a key ball carrier in the pack.
Lee-Warner, who stands at 6ft 6in and weighs in at 17 and half stone, has made five Premiership appearances since joining the Blue, Black and White with Charlie Ewels, Josh McNally, GJ van Velze and Quinn Roux all sidelined with significant injuries while former England international Dave Attwood has missed time due to a three-game suspension but is now back and available along with Will Spencer who has recovered from an ankle injury.
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan looks to be on the hunt for another top-end second row ahead of the 2023/24 season with the club linked with Welsh international Will Rowlands.
Earlier today Rowlands’ current club, Dragons RFC, confirmed his departure at the end of the season but French Top 14 giants Racing 92 are reported to be favourites for his signature.
It comes as no surprise that Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is looking for second row reinforcements with regular captain Joe Joyce already confirmed as departing his hometown club for United Rugby Championship side Connacht.
There is also a sense Attwood, who switched the Bears for Bath in the summer due to Lam being unable to fit him under the league’s salary cap, has not been replaced leaving Bristol’s pack slightly lightweight compared to their rivals.
Lam moved to address that last week by adding former Bath lock Elliott Stooke as short-term injury cover. Stooke was out of work following Wasps’ collapse earlier this season.
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