Bath are in talks to sign Cardiff center Mason Grady as a free agent this summer – with Warren Gatland set to lose ANOTHER young Wales star due to their 25-cap rule

Bath are in talks with Mason Grady about re-adding Wales youngster to their squad for next season, as Johann van Graan continues to chart an upward trajectory for his team.

After signing Scottish fly-half Finn Russell in the summer and also bringing in Ollie Lawrence, Thomas du Toit and Alfie Barbeary, Bath head of rugby Van Graan is building what he hopes will be a title-winning Premier League side. After years of underachievement, Bath are flying high this season.

Their 17-10 West Country derby victory over bitter rivals Gloucester on Sunday moved them into third place in the Premier League, while they also won both of their first two Champions Cup games. Van Graan is not standing still and is already looking at future recruitments.

He is in talks with 21-year-old Grady, who has six caps for Wales and played in the World Cup last year but is out of contract with Cardiff at the end of the current season.

It is understood Grady was at The Rec on Sunday to watch Bath's match with Gloucester.

Warren Gatland will be concerned about the possible departure of a new Wales star to an English club

Mail Sport reported last week that Wales head coach Warren Gatland was at risk of losing some of his current international squad currently based in the Welsh regions to English clubs.

That's because the four regions have a playing budget of just £4.5m each for the 2024/2025 season and are struggling to offer their best Test players competitive new deals.

Clubs in England and France can propose better conditions.

Grady, who can play centrally or on the wing and is a formidable ball carrier, could be the next to leave even though a deal has not yet been signed with Bath and his current club Cardiff are keen to keep him. The half-brother of former Wales center Cory Allen is a hugely talented young player.

He made his senior Test debut against England in the Six Nations last year and has also featured twice in the World Cup in France. He has also impressed for Cardiff this season.

However, signing for Bath would mean Grady would have to give up his international career.

The Welsh Rugby Union's selection policy states that only players with 25 or more international appearances can represent clubs outside Wales and also play for the Gatland national team.

That rule has been called into question again after MailSport reported that Cardiff-born former player Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will take part in an informal training camp in England this week.

Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (left) has told Wales he will not play for them as the 25-cap rule is a big factor

Feyi-Waboso has told Wales he will not play for them in the 2024 Six Nations, with the 25-cap rule a big factor in his decision.

He is highly under consideration for inclusion in Steve Borthwick's England squad for the tournament. Wales chiefs Tomos Williams and Rhys Carre have already agreed to leave Cardiff to sign for Gloucester and Saracens respectively, despite their current employers receiving new private financial investment. Cardiff hopes that investment can convince Grady to stay.

However, the prospect of joining Bath – who have Russell, Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga in their backline – must certainly be tempting given the team's revival and number of star players.

Three more Wales internationals, Taine Basham, Rio Dyer and Aaron Wainwright – all currently at the Dragons – also have English admirers.