Bristol join battle to land Madigan
BRISTOL are looking to make a late bid to hijack Northampton Saints £500,000 a year move for Ireland flyhalf Ian Madigan.
Madigan is keen to quit French Top 14 outfit Bordeaux Begles just one season into a two-year deal in a bid to get his international career back on track. The 27-year-old was looking to go back to Ireland and said this week: “A move to Ireland would certainly excite me. Playing for Ireland is still the ultimate. “The reason I went to France was to improve as a player. “The reason why I had that conversation with our president is because I didn’t feel that I had the confidence of the coaches or felt I was being valued as a player.” However with both Munster and Conacht ruling out a move for him, and Leinster and Ulster both well-stocked in the No.10 department, he has been be hawked around the Premiership in a bid to find a new employer.
The 31-cap Ireland man has another year to run on the contract he signed before this season but, having fallen out of favour, he has held talks with club president Laurent Marti about his future and could be allowed to leave early.
He has struggled to earn a starting place, with Bordeaux favouring New Zealander Simon Hickey, 23, a close season recruit from Auckland.
His agent didn’t have to look very far as Northampton made him their number one target after appearing to miss out on first choice, Springbok No.10 Pat Lambie.
According to my sources, Lambie, who is under contract with the South African Rugby Union, has turned down the chance of playing at Franklin’s Gardens next season.
Saints are, however, close to agreeing a deal to land Lambie’s Sharks half-back partner Cobus Reinach, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
I have been told that Bristol are willing to pay Madigan more than is currently on the table from Saints but they might have left their move too late.
Bristol, despite looking as if they are going to be relegated from the Premiership, are looking to splash the cash under incoming head coach Pat Lam, who will join from Connacht.
They are also believed to be in talks with All Black scrum-half Tawera KerrBarlow as Lam looks to follow up his £650,000 a year move for back rower Steven Luatua.
Chiefs star Kerr-Barlow, 26, who has won 25 Test caps had been linked with a move to big-spending French giants Toulon earlier in the year.
But it appears that Bristol have beaten them to the deal and Kerr-Barlow will arrive with Luatua later in the year.