Tuesday Round-Up

Spedding to Clermont: According to reports emanating out of French rugby circles today, French international Scott Spedding will link up with Clermont at the close of the current Top 14 season. South African born Spedding has been at current club Bayonne since 2012, having bega his career in France with Brive back in 2008. At 28, Spedding has already qualified for residency in France and made his international debut for Philippe Saint-Andre’s side against Fiji during the most recent set of November internationals. Spedding has joined Clermont on an initial three year deal and will join after hopefully ensuring Bayonne’s Top 14 status.

Joseph commitment: Bath Rugby fans are awakening to hugely positive news this morning, as it emerges that star midfield man Jonathan Joseph has put pen to paper on a contract extension with the West Country outfit. Joseph, who has recently forged himself an important place in Stuart Lancaster’s England squad courtesy of some impressive form on the domestic front, has agreed a two year extension to his current deal at the Rec. At 23, Joseph’s game is consistently improving under the tutelage of Mike Ford at Bath and with the likes of George Ford, Kyle Eastmond and Rhys Priestland all committing to the club, the future looks bright for Bath’s midfield.

Aki scan: Irish province Connacht seem unlikely to be able to call on the services of in-form centre Bundee Aki for this weekend’s Challenge Cup action, as the former Chiefs midfielder struggles to recover from an ankle injury. Aki, who played all but four minutes of Connacht’s weekend loss at the hands of Edinburgh, will now undergo multiple scans to determine the extent of damage caused to the ankle. 24 year old Aki is expected to miss this weekend’s clash with Exeter at the Sportsground, with a full prognosis to be delivered later in the week.

Ryan Sheady