Bath RFC have reportedly sought out Johnny Sexton’s agent to discuss a possible move to the Rec ahead of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season.
The fly-half, who will be 36 when his contract expires in 2021, was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018.
Despite his age, Sexton is still going strong with Leinster and Ireland, and a source told RUCK ‘that he has no plans to hang up his boots in the near future.’
Sexton, who is vice-captain of Ireland, made his debut for his country in 2009 and has gone on to earn 91 caps and score 814 points.
Reports in Japan suggest that he could be heading to the Japanese Top League, but Bath could certainly compete with them financially and help the Irishman stay closer to home.
The Black, Blue and Whites have missed out on a number of fly-half targets, and are looking to offer Sexton a two-year deal in January, when they are free to open negotiations with the number 10.
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LIST | Rugby’s best free agents at the end of next season
Some of world’s greats are into the final year of their contracts and there are some huge names who could leave for free next summer…
1. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
The 29-year-old, who signed a two-year extension in 2019, has 62 international caps and was part of the England squad that reached the World Cup final in Japan. New Leicester head coach Steve Borthwick is a huge fans of the second-row, and will look to pursue Launchbury if Wasps can’t get him to sign a new deal.
2. Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
The centre is thought to be out of contract in 2021 after last extending his deal at the Rec in 2019. Joseph, who joined the club in 2013 from London Irish, has 51 caps for his country while he also toured New Zealand with the Lions in 2017.
3. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
In 2017, Glasgow Warriors announced that Jones had signed a contract until at least 2021. However, if reports are to be believed, the Scotland centre is keen on a move to the Gallagher Premiership with Leicester Tigers very interested.