Bath hold talks with Ollie Lawrence and are now confident of keeping the England star… after failing to lure Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu
- Bath are confident of convincing center Ollie Lawrence to stay at The Rec
- A move for Sione Tuipulotu is underway as the Scotland captain re-signs for Glasgow
Bath are optimistic that England center Ollie Lawrence will agree terms to stay at The Rec beyond this season – following speculation he could move.
Mail Sport understands the player is in talks with his employers in the West Country and while no deal has been completed yet, Bath are not thought to be making any contingency plans for the loss of Lawrence.
Ahead of the recent Autumn Nations Series, it was suggested that last year’s defeated Premier League finalists would make a move for new Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, but he re-signed for Glasgow after being handed the Test leadership role.
Lawrence moved to Bath on 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 was named Premiership Player of the Year in deserved recognition for his blistering performances on behalf of his new club.
Since Manu Tuilagi’s Test retirement, Lawrence has become a regular in the English midfield, partnering Henry Slade. It was announced at the end of October that the 25-year-old had been included in the first group 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 midfield for both Bath and England
Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan will be thrilled to retain the centre
Bath had been keeping an eye on Sione Tuipulotu, but the Scotland captain has re-signed for Glasgow
England head coach Steve Borthwick has the scope to eventually allocate up to 25 such deals and it is believed he is using the new system to try to lure a number of France-based players back to the Premier League.
One target is Junior Kpoku, the Racing 92 lock who was a key part of England Under-20s World Cup triumph, but reports in France have suggested he has agreed terms to remain in Paris until 2027 and that he can qualify in theory. about residency to play for France from 2026.
George Ford is another current England player who is out of contract at the end of the season. There were rumors across the Channel that the 98-cap veteran was on the verge of signing for Clermont Auvergne – who were believed to be among a group of Gallic suitors – but these proved unfounded. Instead, he is set to open talks over an extension of his stay at Sale, having also earned one of the 17 Enhanced EPS contracts.
Borthwick allocated these coveted deals, worth around £160,000 a 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 – made the list.