Trio of stars who could take place of Rhys Priestland
Todd Blackadder won’t rule out an approach for Handre Pollard, Aaron Cruden or Gareth Anscombe.
Those current or ex-international fly-halves have all been linked to Bath Rugby as a replacement for Rhys Priestland at the end of the season.
Wales and Cardiff Blues ten Anscombe, who is in the final year of his contract, is the latest name to be thrown into the transfer speculation ring, with the Mail on Sunday reporting that Bath would be willing to pay around £500,000 per year for his services after the World Cup.
Whether the New Zealand-born 27-year-old would contemplate leaving Wales could depend on how he sees his international status after the tournament in Japan, which will be head coach Warren Gatland’s final tournament in charge. The WRU senior international selection policy (SPSP) says that any player taking up a new contract not with a Welsh region must have won 60 caps to be eligible to play for Wales.
Former Auckland Blues and Waikato Chiefs player Anscombe only has 21. Even if he were to play every Test up to and including the World Cup in the autumn before moving across the Severn Bridge, he would not have enough to his name to continue his international career.
“I can’t confirm or deny,” said Bath’s director of rugby Blackadder when asked whether the club were interested in signing Anscombe.
When asked whether he could rule out South Africa’s Pollard, former All Black playmaker Cruden or Anscombe as definitely not being potential recruitment options, he said: “No. We are a work in progress, I’m sorry to say.”
Priestland - the current firstchoice fly-half at Bath - has not been offered a new deal when his current three-year contract expires.
After Bath lost to Northampton Saints, he joked: “I might have to retire. I honestly don’t know what I’m doing (next season).”
Freddie Burns and Alex Davies are contracted up to the summer of 2020.
Bath take on Harlequins at the Rec this Saturday, then Saracens at home on March 8. Junior tickets for the Sarries game start from £10 and can be bought at bathrugby.com, or by calling 0844 448 1865.