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Bath eyeing 50-cap All Black to replace Rhys Priestland? - reports
Bath are targetting a former All Black to replace Rhys Priestland – according to reports.
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Earlier this month Bath revealed that Priestland would leave the club at the end of the current season, and they currently searching for a replacement.
According to The Rugby Paper, Cruden is in their sights as the possibility of signing Handre Pollard appears to be looking less likely.
Cruden (RPI 70) is currently the 15th ranked flyhalf in the Top 14 by the RugbyPass Index.
The club is on a major recruitment drive, raiding Premiership rivals for three players and signing another from local rivals Cornish Pirates – all four are English-qualified. Lewis Boyce, Christian Judge, Will Stuart and Mike Williams will join the Club ahead of the 2019/20 season.
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Priestland joined the Club in 2015 and has made over 60 appearances for the Blue, Black and White since his arrival from Welsh side Scarlets.
Director of Rugby, Todd Blackadder, said: “Rhys has been an influential figure not only on the field but in his leadership off the field over the last four years.
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“There’s still a lot of rugby to play between now and the end of the season, and I have no doubt he’ll play a key role in the next six months.”
Priestland may be keen on a return to Wales, however the Scarlets don’t look a viable option with Rhys Patchell having a firm hold of the 10 jersey, while the Cardiff Blues have Jarrod Evans and Gareth Anscombe as options at 10.
The Ospreys may be looking for an experienced head in the position following last summer’s departure of Dan Biggar to Northampton, however they’ve invested plenty of time in Sam Davies and he appears to have filled the void, with 23-year-old Luke Price as back-up.
It could mean that the Dragons are the only viable option within Wales for Priestland should he go back to Wales.
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Earlier on Tuesday the Dragons confirmed that fly half Jason Tovey had agreed a contract until the end of the season.
Tovey is the record points scorer for the region, with 981 points in all competitions, with his best return of 215 points coming for the Men of Gwent in season 2013/14.
The 29-year-old – who has made a total of 170 appearances for Dragons – re-joined the region on permit from Cross Keys earlier this season.
He has now signed a contract until the end of the campaign and been registered for the remaining European Challenge Cup games.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments