Bath lose Fruean but Irish keep building

ROBBIE Fruean will leave Bath this summer after agreeing a two-year deal with Edinburgh.

As revealed in Blindside on April 23, the former U19 Player of the Year will swap the West Country for Scotland where he will link up with Richard Cockerill who takes over as head coach.

Fruean said: “The vision Edinburgh have for the club’s future success is something I’m excited about and I’m hoping to add value to the team.”

Prop Beno Obano has been promoted to the Bath senior squad with academy duo Darren Atkins and Rory Jennings both agreeing one-year extensions with the club.

London Irish are continuing to build their pack with the signing of Toulon’s Fiji tighthead Manasa Saulo, Samoan second row Teofilo Paulo from Treviso and Australian back row Jake Schatz.

Schatz, who made his name in Super Rugby with the Reds, turned out for the Rebels this season where Geoff Parling will be playing in 2018. The former England lock, fresh from winning the Premiership with Exeter, will end the year in Japan before having a crack at Super Rugby from January.

He said: “After some really enjoyable years in the Premiership, I’m excited about the opportunity to test myself in the Southern Hemisphere that Super Rugby brings.

Former Bath No.8 Leroy Houston has signed for Bordeaux-Begles after requesting his contract with the Reds in Super Rugby be terminated.