Bears star Hughes linked with possible move to France

BRISTOL Bears No 8 Nathan Hughes is reported to be exploring his options away from the club.

The Rugby Paper report the 30-year-old’s CV is doing the rounds in France with an ongoing dispute taking place between rugby agents and Premiership clubs at the moment over who should pay their fees, thus encouraging moves out of England.

Historically, the clubs have had to fork out for agents’ commission but Premiership Rugby are trying to make players take the financial hit instead.

In January 2019, Bristol announced Hughes would join the club from Wasps ahead of the 2019-20 season on a three-year deal, keeping him at the club to the end of this season. However, in August last year, Hughes was one of 33 players listed by the Bears as having signed contract extensions, meaning he is, in fact, likely to still be in contract at last season’s tabletoppers beyond this campaign.

Fijian-born Hughes has 22 caps for England, all earned before he moved to Bristol, and has been director of rugby Pat Lam’s first choice at No 8 since he arrived at the club.

However, with Premiership clubs having to play money-ball more now with a reduced salary cap, down to £5 million, and just one marquee player in the future, Bristol will likely struggle, nor potentially want to match Hughes’ reported £500,000 per season wages.

The big No 8 was dropped for Bristol’s 25-20 win over derby rivals Bath on Friday night, having been largely ineffectual in the club’s defeats to Saracens and Wasps in the opening rounds.

Flanker Steven Luatua moved across from six to the back of the scrum against Bath and scored a superb try.