Bath on edge as big-name contracts draw to a close

A number of high-ranking players’ contracts at Bath come to an end at the end of the season which could leave the club in a troubled state should said agreements not be renewed.

Exeter Chiefs are reportedly courting loosehead prop Beno Obano, the latter feeling that a move to Sandy Park could very well better his chances of breaking into the national side. Obano is the cousin of current England lock Maro Itoje and his impressive form will be sorely missed by the Bath camp.

Twice-capped England international and dynamic Bath loose-forward Zach Mercer would also be a heavy loss should Montpellier’s advances towards the player be reciprocated. The Top 14 giants have made no secret of the fact that they have been interested in signing Mercer for a while now and have already initiated advanced talks.

In the backs, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson have also held off on signing new deals and their exits would leave some worrying voids out wide. Joseph and Watson are both British & Irish Lions representatives and bring so much to the table on both attack and defence.

Bath have not enjoyed a good start to the Premiership, having emerged victorious in only one of their three games so far after losses to Newcastle Falcons and Exeter Chiefs. The next task ahead of them is Scarlets in Round 1 of the Champions Cup.