The Bristol Bears are reportedly interested in signing two more England internationals as they aim to win their first Premiership title.
Their head coach, Pat Lam, is reportedly looking to rebuild the team’s roster after a disappointing season that has left them at the bottom of the table.
According to RUCK, it is rumored that Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra may leave the club, which would free up a significant amount of money for the Bears to use in their pursuit of new players.
They are reportedly targeting Sale Sharks flanker Tom Curry and Leicester Tigers winger Anthony Watson as they look to strengthen their squad.
Both players are said to be out of contract this summer and could potentially be signed by the Bears.
Watson joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2022/23 season on a one-year contact.
The England and British & Irish Lions moved to Leicester from fellow Gallagher Premiership club Bath Rugby.
Watson was born in Surrey and was a member of the London Irish academy before making his professional debut for The Exiles in 2011 and representing England at Under-20 level during the next two seasons.
He moved to Bath in 2013 and made more than 100 appearances for the club in the Premiership and European competitions.
Watson made his Test debut for England in 2014 against New Zealand at Twickenham and has made more than 50 international appearances, including at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, as well as having featured in successive British & Irish Lions tours in against the All Blacks in 2017 and Springboks in 2021.
In 2017, Curry was called up for the senior England squad for a tour of Argentina, becoming the youngest player to start at flanker for England.
He was named in England’s 2019 Six Nations squad and started at number 7 in every game, scoring tries against Wales and Scotland.
With England, he won the Six Nations and the Autumn Nations Cup in 2020.
In May 2021, he was selected to represent the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa.
Speaking about Tom, former England boss Eddie Jones said: “He’s become a real leader within our team, he drives the physical standards, drives the standards of the breakdown and he’s only going to keep improving.”
Sir Clive Woodward selects England XV to ‘win the Six Nations’
The former England head coach is backing new head coach Steve Borthwick to get England on a roll by calling up the in-form Premiership stars.
“England can absolutely win the Six Nations and the World Cup. The more I think about it, the more excited I am about Steve Borthwick’s appointment as head coach,” wrote Woodward.
“I’m hugely excited for England’s first game with Scotland. Borthwick is in a good position to bring immediate improvement to the team because the pressure is off him and the only way is up after a disappointing last three years.
“Borthwick needs to nail down who he wants in his starting 15, but especially the key positions of 10, 12 and 13. He has to get the culture right.
“I’d like to see form Premiership players like Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Earl given a chance and bring a fresh, youthful vibrancy to the England set-up. Since the 2019 World Cup, Jones picked virtually the same players almost regardless of their club form.
“I think that will change under Borthwick and his selection for the Scotland game is an opportunity to really lay down a marker.”
Sir Clive Woodward England XV
BACK-THREE:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
- 11. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
Woodward wrote: “’”There are some serious speedsters in the Premiership and I don’t think Joe Cokanasiga, Jack Nowell and Jonny May are at the top of the pile.
“I’d love to see him pick from guys like Tommy Freeman, Adam Radwan, Cadan Murley and Ollie Hassell-Collins.”
CENTRES:
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- 12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
