Newcastle Falcons' recruitment team have set their sights on bringing Bristol Bears hooker Harry Thacker to Kingston Park according to the latest reports.
Falcons took the option to cut their costs and made the surprising choice to allow top scorer George McGuigan to join Gallagher Premiership rivals Gloucester Rugby last month having agreed on a new contract with England international hooker Jamie Blamire earlier in December.
Explaining McGuigan’s departure, director of rugby Dave Walder said: “The board are in charge of all recruitment and retention and they felt that was the best decision for the club and it happened very quickly.
“There is nothing you can do and you just have to get on with it. It is never good to see your best players leave but my job as head coach is to coach the players I have got and get the best out of them. The board take those decisions and I am looking forward to giving it a shot against Cardiff. Jamie has signed a new contract and has been involved with England and we are excited to see him kick on.
“We have always cut our cloth accordingly and what has gone with Worcester and Wasps has got everybody treading on eggshells a little bit and I cannot speak for other people’s perceptions (of Falcons). We get on and do our job with what we have got to help the club moving forward. My job is to deal with the rugby side and develop players from within. It’s a part of the job I enjoy."
However The Rugby Paper report Thacker, 28, could be set for a move north after five years in the West Country. He joined Bristol from his hometown club Leicester Tigers in 2018/19 and now made 88 appearances for the Bears in five years interrupted a number of significant injuries.
Most regard the former England U20s as Bristol’s first choice hooker in a star frontrow, flanked on either side by England stars Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler, but the Bears are well stocked at hooker with Bryan Byrne, Jake Kerr and Will Capon as viable first team options.
But few hookers in the Premiership have Thackers’ skillset, with the explosive frontrower often looking more like an illusive centre due to his mobility and handling ability which has made him a firm fan favourite at Ashton Gate.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam has also been linked with a move for Wasps’ hooker Gabriel Oghre, potentially signalling departures amongst his current stable of players.
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