Bath's rivals set to swoop for young flanker Ethan Staddon

Bristol Bears are poised to raid neighbours Bath and take flanker Ethan Staddon to Ashton Gate next season as Pat Lam steps up his recruitment plans.

Former England Under-18 and Under-20 Staddon, 23, who was part of the Bath side that won the PREM Rugby Cup in 2025, beating Exeter Chiefs 48-14, is out of contract at the end of the season.

Dorchester-born Staddon made his debut for the Blue, Black and White against Worcester Warriors in December 2020, and has played 37 games for the club, with 21 coming in the cup.

The former Hartpury ace, who signed a one-year contract extension last February, who can play six or seven, is the latest player that Lam has shown an interest in.

RugbyPass reported at the weekend that the Bears are keen on Ulster’s former Ireland under-20 lock Matthew Dalton, who is out of contract with the United Rugby Championship outfit at the end of the season.

Dalton, who rejoined Ulster for a second spell in January 2025, has also played for Utah, Newcastle Falcons and Soyaux Angoulême, and has made five appearances for Ulster.

While we also exclusively revealed that they had moved for Cornish Pirates hooker Sol Moody, who has been one of Champ Rugby’s standout performers since joining on a dual registration from Exeter Chiefs.

Moody has scored 11 tries in 10 games for the Pirates, including four in the win against Ampthill and a hat-trick in the win over London Scottish last weekend.

We also revealed in December that Lam has also done a deal that will see Ealing Trailfinders highly-rated full-back Tobi Wilson move to the club at the start of next season.

And it is understood that they are very close to winning the race for Worcester Warriors’ No.8 Khalik Kareem, who is another player to have caught the eye playing in the Champ this season.