BLINDSIDE
Worcester Warriors lead chase for Bath scrum-half Will Chudley
WORCESTER Warriors want Bath scrum-half Will Chudley to replace Francois Hougaard who is set to return to South Africa with the Blue Bulls.
Hougaard, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, had been in talks about a move to Japan when his Warriors contract runs out in the summer. But the Blue Bulls want him to replace Ivan van Zyl who has agreed to a deal that will see him head to Saracens for the start of next season.
Former Bedford Blues and Newcastle Falcons ace Chudley, 30, has made 37 appearances for Bath but now has Ben Spencer ahead of him in The Rec pecking order.
He spent six seasons with Exeter Chiefs and was a replacement in the 2017 Premiership final win over Wasps.
The Warriors are also casting their eye over Bath tighthead Christian Judge, who helped Saracens win a Premiership title two years ago, Judge, 28, came through the ranks at Launceston, Plymouth Albion, Bedford Blues and Cornish Pirates before stepping up to the Premiership.
Another player who is believed to be on the Warriors radar is former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin who has spent the last couple of seasons with Quins.
Baldwin, 32, who has 34 international caps, spent a decade at the Ospreys before moving to south west London.
Warriors DoR Alan Solomons has recruited Duhan van der Merwe, above, on a £300,000 a year deal from Edinburgh next season less than a year after the wing qualified for Scotland through residency.