>> Bath in for Halfpenny
LEIGH HALFPENNY could be heading to the Premiership after he returns from the British Lions tour of New Zealand according to Blindside sources.
The Wales full-back is poised to leave Top 14 runners up Toulon after three seasons now that his lucrative £525,000 a year contract ended.
He was offered a twoyear extension to remain on the Cote d’Azur by Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal but only if he accepted a much reduced £306,000.
Boudjellal didn’t believe he was getting value for money from Halfpenny who has suffered more than his fair share of injury problems since moving to France.
He also missed the Top 14 Final defeat against Clermont Auvergne earlier this month because of the Lions tour to New Zealand.
The transfer window in France closed on Thursday and it appears he didn’t sign for another Top 14 side.
Cardiff Blues were keen to take him home to Wales on a WRU national dual contract and were willing to pay him £420,000 a year.
But that fell through when Halfpenny insisted on being allowed to leave after the 2019 World Cup because he had an eye on playing in Super Rugby.
Bath are believed to be in pole position to sign the 29-year-old and have the spending power to attract him.
Halfpenny would have options in Japan, while a move to Super Rugby could also be on the cards.
Meanwhile Bath’s director of performance and player development Stuart Hooper is putting the finishing touches to a dual registration deal with Yorkshire Carnegie.
The first player expected to benefit from the deal is fly-half Rory Jennings who had a similar spell at Ealing Trailfinders last season.