A quartet of Gallagher Premiership clubs are reportedly interested in strengthening their frontrows ahead of next season with the addition of Welsh international prop Nicky Smith.
WalesOnline reports loosehead Smith is set to exit the Ospreys at the end of the season where he has built a reputation as one of the best scrummagers in the United Rugby Championship.
The four Welsh regions face losing dozens of top players with the Welsh Professional Rugby Board has still not lifted its contract freeze as talks between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions over a new long-term funding deal which is expected to be significantly lower than current levels meaning the regions could struggle to retain and attract the top talent on the market.
The publication reports Bristol Bears, Bath, Gloucester and Northampton Saints have all expressed interest in signing 28-year-old Smith who has earned 42 caps for his country but surprisingly been left out of Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad.
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All three South West clubs are currently well positioned at loosehead with Bristol’s first choice being England vice-captain Ellie Genge, although there is a significant drop-off behind him to the likes of Yann Thomas and Jake Woolmore who are both seasoned Premiership campaigners but far from international calibre.
Gloucester have the Premiership’s top performer according to the stats Val-Rapava-Ruskin, along with Harry Elrington and the yet to play Argentina international Mayco Vivas,
Before Christmas, the Cherry and Whites were also linked with Cardiff Rugby’s 45-cap Welsh international tighthead Dillon Lewis.
Bath have explosive England international loosehead Beno Obano currently on the treatment table but he is on the verge of a return from a dislocated knee cap he suffered on the first day of the season. Further down the roster, Lewis Boyce is expected to leave the Rec at the end of the season.
Under the WRU’s current 60-cap law, Smith’s departure from Wales post-2023 Rugby World Cup would signal the end of his international career but would make him a more appetising signing for Premiership directors of rugby hungry for players who represent value for money in terms of availability when it comes to big-name signings as they look to be competitive while working within the constraints of the £5m salary cap.
