TRANSFER | 'Loan deal' for Ben Earl is done according to reports

According to , the deal is now in place that will see him spend next season in the West Country.

Making his England debut during the 2020 Six Nations, the flanker has become a prime target of rival clubs following the automatic relegation of Mark McCall’s team due to their salary cap breaches.

Earl had been linked to Northampton Saints, Gloucester and Bristol in recent weeks, but it seems the Bears have won the race to capture the openside.

RUCK sources suggest this is because Bristol will pay the highest loan fee, around £200,000, for the back-rower.