Bath move to extend Max Ojomoh contract amid Leicester Tigers interest

Bath have entered early contract discussions with England international Max Ojomoh, with the inside centre’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season. The Gallagher Premiership club is hoping to wrap up an extension within the next few weeks, having moved proactively rather than waiting for the contract to run down.

Ojomoh, 26, has twice been a transfer target for Leicester Tigers but has consistently chosen to remain at the Rec. His international record stands at two tries in two appearances for England, including a score against Argentina last season. Bath will be eager to avoid a repeat of previous summers when his future was left uncertain deep into the window.

Elsewhere in the European club game, Lyon have moved swiftly to retain Fijian wing Iosefo Masi on a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Stade de Gerland until 2029. The 28-year-old, who claimed Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and silver in Paris last year, joined Lyon from Fijian Drua ahead of last season, making 14 appearances and scoring four tries. He has carried that form into the current campaign with two tries in the opening three Top 14 fixtures, prompting the club to act quickly.

Former Ireland and Lions flanker Stephen Ferris has called on Ulster to pursue two or three marquee signings to revive the province’s fortunes. Ferris pointed to the era when Ulster attracted players of the calibre of Ruan Pienaar, Johann Muller, and John Afoa as the standard the province should be targeting once more. “I think Ulster need two or three marquee signings that are going to take the roof off, and that might not be at the end of this season, but moving forward, that’s clearly where they have got to get to,” he said.

Bristol Bears head coach Pat Lam has acknowledged the difficulty of sourcing reinforcements amid a mounting injury list, noting that most clubs are reluctant to release players once the season is underway. Lam brought in seven senior signings over the summer but has since been hit by a series of long-term absences. “At the moment, we’re okay, but we’ve got one eye on options and so forth. But with everyone starting their season, there’s probably less available than most people would think,” he said.

Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson expects a quieter recruitment window after the club signed 12 senior players ahead of the current campaign. Sanderson identified inside centre and scrum-half as the two positions where Sale may still look to strengthen, despite already adding Xavier Roe from the Chiefs. “We are only specifically targeting one or two players to add to this group that should be together for the next two years at least,” he said.