Rokoduguni is set for a switch to French club
BATH Rugby and England star Semesa Rokoduguni has been to France to undergo a medical with ProD2 side Beziers.
Fiji-born wing Rokoduguni signed for Bath in 2012 and has gone on to prove himself as one of the most deadly finishers in the English top flight, and big fan favourite at the Rec, making more than 150 appearances for the club in that time.
At 32, the winger, who is still a Lance Corporal and reconnaissance tank soldier in the British Army, is understood to be looking for one more lucrative contract before hanging up his boots.
Somerset Live, the sister website of the Daily Press, understands that in the wake of the financial crisis which has hit domestic rugby due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the subsequent suspension of the league, Bath have asked the four-cap England international to take a 25 percent pay cut despite being in contract until 2022.
Rokoduguni is one of a number of high paid stars who is understood to have been asked to take a bigger pay cut than the majority of the squad, with most agreeing to a 15 percent cut.
Beziers are in the second tier of French club rugby, but are in the later stages of a takeover from Emirati billionaire buyers, hence a huge potential injection of cash to fund a climb up the leagues. However, the takeover is yet to be signed off by the French financial watchdog DNACG.
French rugby also has a formal transfer window, which ends on July 15, meaning any big signings would need to happen quickly.
While the departure of an international like Rokoduguni would undoubtedly be a blow to the Blue, Black & Whites’ ambitions, Bath are blessed with talent on the wings with England men Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga and Ruaridh McConnochie to call upon, as well as the emerging talents both Gabe-Hamer Webb and Darren Atkins.
Manu Tuilagi has completed his switch from Leicester Tigers to Premiership rivals Sale Sharks.
The 29-year-old will keep his England career alive by staying on home soil, after agreeing a deal with Sale that runs until the end of the 2020/21 season.
The 43-cap England centre was a free agent after rejecting a 25 per cent pay cut and leaving the Tigers, the club he joined as a teenager.
Tuilagi will now be available for Sale’s push towards the play-offs when the current Premiership season resumes next month after the coronavirus shutdown.
The Sharks sit second in the league standings, and British & Irish Lions powerhouse Tuilagi’s addition will prove a real coup for Sale.
“We contacted Manu’s agent and Leicester last week to discuss the player’s current position,” said Sharks rugby director Steve Diamond.
“Manu will be a fantastic addition to our squad and I am looking forward to seeing him join up with the lads (at training) this week.”
THE Washington Redskins are no more after the three-time Super Bowl-winning NFL team revealed they will drop the controversial name and logo.
The move comes ten days after the franchise launched a review of the team’s name, which has long been considered offensive to Native Americans.
“Today we are announcing we will be retiring the Redskins name and logo upon completion of this review,” a statement said.
No replacement name has yet been announced, with the team saying owner Dan Snyder and coach Ron Rivera, who effectively serves as general manager, were still considering alternatives.
“Dan Snyder and coach Rivera are working to develop a new name and design (to) enhance the standing of our tradition-rich franchise,” the statement added.
Washington are due to host Philadelphia in the first game of the new season on September 13.