Bath sign star scrum-half
Bath Rugby are reported to have completed a sensational deal to sign Wales international scrumhalf Rhys Webb for the remaining four months of the season.
The Blue, Black and Whites missed out on bringing him to The Rec next season with scrum-half an area director of rugby Stuart Hooper is understood to be looking to strengthen ahead of 2020/21, with the British & Irish Lions star opting to join his former side the Ospreys instead to be close to his young family.
However the deal has caused friction with Webb’s current side, Top 14 heavyweights Toulon who released him from his contract a year early to allow him to rejoin the Pro14 side.
There was a suggestion he would link up with Ospreys early but Bath look to have won the race for his services with the league season at the halfway stage and the West Country side in fifth place in the table.
The disgruntled hierarchy at Toulon told Webb, 31, he would not play for the French side again and this week they brought in Tongan international Sonatane Takulua from Newcastle Falcons as a direct replacement on a long-term deal.
The Times reported that Hooper has brought Webb to Bath with immediate effect to provide the club with a significant push for the top four and perhaps even the Gallagher Premiership title.
The race to join front runners Exeter Chiefs in the grand final in June remains wide open this season following Saracens’ salary cap breach punishments.
Webb could even feature in the big derby game against Bristol Bears on Sunday, reports the paper.
Because Webb has committed his future to Ospreys next season the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have made an exception to their own selection policy for this year’s Guinness Six Nations by calling up Webb, who has 32 caps but falls short of the 60-cap minimum required for overseasbased players to be eligible.
However, a rusty Webb, who has not started a game since November, has only played 19 minutes in this year’s tournament after coming on as a replacement in the 42-0 win against Italy.
Long-term, Bath are expected to bring in Saracens scrum-half Ben Spencer next season. But the Bath Chronicle understands there is a sticking point in the discussions with Hooper wanting the England international on a permanent deal while Saracens, who will be relegated into the Greene King IPA Championship next season, would rather he leave on just a season-long loan.
The club did announce the signing of Sale Sharks centre Cameron Redpath with immediate effect in another shock mid-season transfer.
Redpath has signed on a three-year contract and will also be eligible to play this weekend in the big derby clash.