Bath risk losing loyal servant Obano to Bordeaux-Bègles after contract talks

Bath are fighting to retain England prop Beno Obano ahead of a decision expected within weeks, after the 31-year-old held talks with Bordeaux-Bègles in south-west France over a potential summer move.

Obano entered the final year of his Bath contract at the start of July, and his name has been circulating among French clubs for several months. Bordeaux, back-to-back Champions Cup winners, are actively assessing loose-head options with Jefferson Poirot and Matis Perchaud both out of contract in July 2027. The French club were impressed by Obano during their Champions Cup semi-final victory over Bath last season and held direct talks with him last week. He is expected to give Bordeaux an answer within the next couple of weeks.

A move to France would leave Bath severely stretched in the front row. The club already lost first-choice tight-head Thomas Du Toit, who rejoined the Sharks in Durban earlier this summer, while Obano’s former understudy François Van Wyk departed for Connacht in the URC when his contract expired at the end of June.

Obano, who is Maro Itoje’s cousin, has been a cornerstone of Bath’s pack since his debut in a defeat at Exeter Chiefs in February 2015, and is approaching 200 appearances for the club. He started both Bath’s Challenge Cup and Gallagher Premiership final victories in 2025, underlining his importance to the side in their most successful recent campaign.

Despite that form, Obano was not among the 25 players awarded enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts for the 2026-27 England campaign, announced earlier this month — an omission that may factor into his thinking. He did return to international rugby this summer, coming off the bench in England’s 45-21 Nations Championship win over South Africa at Ellis Park, his first cap since facing Italy in February 2024.

A move across the Channel would almost certainly end his England career, given the Rugby Football Union’s policy on selecting overseas-based players. Bath will be hoping he opts to stay, but the clock is ticking.