Luke Morahan is among 16 Bristol Bears first-team players to commit to the team for next season amid speculation the versatile Australian back was poised to make a return Down Under.
The end of a challenging season for the Bears has coincided with considerable turmoil behind the scenes as a salary cap error has seen the departures of Nathan Hughes, Antoine Frisch, John Afoa, Dave Attwood and Alapati Leiua, with CEO Mark Tainton also leaving the club.
Financial constraints, as the reduced salary cap of £5m also comes with the stipulation that only one marquee player is permitted, has led to considerations that some of the higher-earning players would be forced to leave, with the Daily Telegraph indicating Morahan could be among the high-profile exits.
But the 32-year-old, who moved to the West Country ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, is now set for a sixth season in Bristol having extended his contract, along with rugby league convert Siva Naulago.
Bears will also keep hold of highly-rated back rowers Dan Thomas and Jake Heenan, while hookers Harry Thacker, Bryan Byrne and Jake Kerr also remain. Props Max Lahiff, Jake Armstrong and Yann Thomas are staying in BS3, as is recent Bears centurion Piers O'Conor.
Along with five academy graduates in John Hawkins, James Dun, Will Capon, Sam Jeffries and Charlie Powell, this group join Chris Vui and Harry Randall – who signed long-term contracts earlier this year – in committing their futures to the club.
"We've always talked about bringing a core group through as we progress and we are seeing that in our squad retention,” said director of rugby Pat Lam.
"We're pleased to see a talented and experienced group of guys commit to the Bears, the majority of whom have been with us since the beginning of our journey.
"That world class talent is blended with homegrown talent who are making the step up - we've seen that in the way that the young players have made their mark during the current campaign.
"These players join the guys who remain in contract for next year and, as always, we'll release a full retained list ahead of the final home game of the season against Exeter Chiefs on Friday night."
That list does not, of course, include Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Callum Sheedy, as high-profile international stars but that trio are understood to still have at least a year remaining on their respective contracts.
The Bears are likely to confirm their released list at a later date as they play out the final two games of the Premiership season, starting with the visit of Exeter City to Ashton Gate on Friday night.
