Hughes looks set to make Bristol move
BRISTOL Bears could this week wrap up the signing of Wasps and England No 8 Nathan Hughes.
The powerful back-row forward has long been touted with a move down the M5 to link up with Pat Lam and according to The Times the switch could be announced in the next seven days.
The Times explains that Wasps look set to lose the services of several players in the near future and that it is “accepted by club insiders” that Hughes to the Bears is a done deal, along with several other player transfers.
In their Sunday edition it is stated: “All the indications are that, in the week ahead, Wasps will look even odder in terms of personnel -it is now accepted by club insiders that Elliot Daly (to Saracens), Nathan Hughes (to Bristol), and the first-line props, Matt Mullan and Cooper-Woolley, are all leaving.” While there may be tough times ahead for the Coventry-based outfit, the Bears look to be on the verge of a key signing to follow up a comfortable win against Enisei-STM in the European Challenge Cup in Russia at the weekend.
Hughes, 27, has 17 caps for England and looks set to compete with Billy Vunipola to start at the back of the pack in the forthcoming Six Nations tournament.
And it could be that the former Auckland player will be the next key signing at Ashton Gate as the Bears look to build on their promotion year in the Premiership.