Bristol Bears are trying to sign loanees Ben Earl and Max Malins permanently from Saracens, according to The Rugby Paper.
However, Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam has moved to dismiss the speculation today.
The Bears boss addressed the speculation head on: “It is just a joke, an absolute joke.
“Those boys are Saracens players, they are contracted to Saracens and we loaned them for one year. It is very clear.
“Of course they are enjoying it, and of course we are enjoying having them here, but it is a mutual thing.
“They put their full heart and soul into their rugby and buy into our culture at the Bears and we put our heart and soul into preparing them and developing them, but it was always very clear from the beginning that they would go back to Saracens because they have got long term contracts with Saracens.
“So all of this speculation is funny to read and it is not right as all.”