Marcus Smith has reportedly rejected the chance to move to the Top14 in a bid to keep his international career alive.
According to Midi Olympique, Lyon have failed in their attempt to lure the Harlequins to France and have since turned their attentions to other targets including Munster’s JJ Hanrahan.
The 21-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, reportedly turned down a two-year contract worth £1.5m. Quins are hopeful of keeping him, but there is also reported interest from Bath and Sale Sharks.
Smith became the second-youngest Premiership debutant in history, behind George Ford, when making his Harlequins bow against London Irish aged 18 years and 200 days in September 2017.
The fly-half made 28 appearances for Harlequins in all competitions during the 2017/18 season scoring three tries on his way to 208 points.
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He was named as an apprentice in the England party for the Old Mutual Wealth series that autumn and continued in that role during the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations.
He featured for the England XV side that beat the Barbarians 51-43 at Twickenham in May 2019, scoring 26 of those points in a stand-out performance.
DID YOU KNOW? Born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina mother, Smith picked up the game of rugby union at the age of seven with Centaurs RFC when his family moved to Singapore.
RANKED | 5 players who were most unlucky to be left out by Eddie Jones
Here, RUCK.co.uk gives our list of the five Gallagher Premiership players who were most unlucky to miss out on the 2021 England Six Nations squad…
5. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
- Position: Wing
- Club: Newcastle Falcons
- Age: 23
Jonny May has underwhelmed since rejoining the Cherry & Whites while Radwan has been a standout star for the high-flying Falcons. The Newcastle flyer, who was the top-scorer in the Championship last season, put the England winger on his ass twice as the two went head-to-head at Kingston Park recently. Would have been an exciting call-up, but no dice.