Sarries reportedly eyeing Obano move
Saracens director of rugby Mark Mccall has reportedly put Bath Rugby prop Beno Obano top of his shopping list.
The Saracens boss is beginning to make plans should out of contract Mako Vunipola leave the club at the end of the season, reports The Rugby Paper.
England and British and Irish Lions loosehead prop Vunipola, 30, has been linked with moves to both Bristol Bears and the French Top 14 with his future in North London uncertain.
London-born Obano, 27, is currently sidelined after rupturing his ACL while playing for Bath against Harlequins in October and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper has already indicated that he is looking to bring in a replacement during the season to cover the England international’s injury-enforced absence.
Bath’s current fit loosehead options include: Lewis Boyce, Juan Schoeman, Will Vaughan and Kieran Verden.
Obano, who is the cousin of Saracens star Maro Itoje, joined the Bath academy in 2014 having been released by Wasps and made his first-team debut in 2015 against Ospreys in the Anglo-welsh Cup.
He has since gone on to establish himself as the first choice loosehead at The Rec and Obano made his international debut during the 2021 Six Nations, running out against Scotland and appeared for the national side again for his third cap against Canada this summer.
The 27-year-old has already come back from a devastating knee injury he suffered in May 2018 while with England where he “tore every ligament” in his knee.
Bath have already confirmed Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau will leave the club for Cardiff Rugby next season.