Rugby Eden reportedly set to leave Bears to play in France next season
BRISTOL Bears fly-half Tiff Eden looks set to follow club-mates John Afoa and Alapati Leiua in playing in France next season.
Afoa, the former All Black tighthead prop, and Samoan international wing Leiua will both join ProD2 side Vannes next season, and Eden, 27, is reported to be on the verge of joining them in making a living across the Channel according to The Rugby Paper.
Former Nottingham fly-half Eden joined the Bears in the summer of 2018-19 but has only had sporadic appearances for the first team, featuring in 15 Premiership matches during his four seasons at the club and spending time on loan at Championship side Hartpury.
With USA international AJ MacGinty joining Bristol from Sale
Sharks in the summer to compete for the 10 jersey with Wales international Callum Sheedy, and to a lesser extent the versatile Ioan Lloyd, Eden’s future at the club looked in doubt from the moment the headline signing was confirmed.
Ironically, Eden has had his best season to date at the Bears, and had attracted the eye of Championship side Jersey, according to reports, but is keen on a move to France.
Meanwhile, the man who looks set to be Eden’s replacement at the Bears - Hartpury’s James Williams - has been named in the Championship team of the season as an inside centre for the second season in a row.
Williams, who will join the Bears in the summer, also has significant experience at No 10 and is the top points scorer in the second tier of
English rugby this season but will also provide cover for the departing Antoine Frisch, who will join Munster on a three-year deal this summer.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is set to confirm his retained list for the 2022-23 season in two weeks’ time.
» Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney is recovering in hospital after suffering a pulmonary embolism, the governing body has confirmed.
Sweeney was admitted on Friday and the RFU said he is “expected to make a full recovery and return to work” following a period of recuperation.
Sweeney joined the RFU in 2019 after spending five years as chief executive of the British Olympic Association.