Bath linked with bid to bring Cipriani to the Rec
toll on the 16-cap former England international’s mental health in 2020 as well as his form on the pitch, which led him to take a break.
As Gloucester’s highest paid player his departure also eased the financial burden on the club with all Premiership sides badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before switching their attention to Cipriani, it is understood Bath had been in the market to sign Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith ahead of the 2021/22 season but according to the Daily Mail and The Rugby Paper he has now opted to remain at Quins.
French Top 14 side Lyon were also strongly linked with a move for Smith, who at 21 is undeniably one of the most exciting talents in English rugby and the leading light at Harlequins, but leading French sports newspaper Midi Olympique reports Smith turned down Lyon last week.
Questions over the side-stepping, free running stand-off ’s future arose with his current three-year contract at Harlequins set to expire at the end of the season.
Despite his young age, Smith has already racked up a remarkable 94 first team games for Harlequins and is currently the leading points scorer in the Gallagher Premiership [102].
Smith looked destined to leave The Stoop at the end of the season but the departure of head of rugby Paul Gustard, who joined the club in the summer of 2018 from his role as England defence coach, looks to have changed the dynamics at Quins.
Intriguingly both Smith and Gustard share the same agent, with the Stellar Group agency also handling the likes of Bath’s number eight star Taulupe Faletau. Bath’s current first choice fly-half Rhys Priestland, who turned 34 last month, is understood to be leaving The Rec at the end of the season having agreed a two-year deal with Pro14 side Cardiff Blues.
The Blue, Black and White have confirmed they have added some depth to their squad at fly-half with the addition of South African Tian Schoeman who joined last month from the Cheetahs on an 18-month contract and made his debut off the bench in the 15-28 defeat to Harlequins.
Schoeman, 29, has been brought in to help develop academy prospect Orlando Bailey, 19, while providing an experienced option in the number 10 jersey; but Priestland’s impending exit will leave another gap in the squad going into 2021/22 unless replaced, with just centres Josh Matavesi, Cam Redpath and full back Tom de Glanville as the alternative in house cover.