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Bath statement: Two loan deals, including Lawrence, made permanent

(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

The future of England midfielder Ollie Lawrence has been decided as he has signed a long-term deal with Bath, who have also signed his fellow Worcester colleague Fergus Lee-Warner for the remainder of the 2022/23 season in England.

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Lawrence was one of four players who arrived at The Rec at the start of last week from the Warriors, but that loan arrangement was thrown into doubt after the company holding the Sixways club’s player contracts was wound up at an insolvency court last Wednesday.

It meant that Lawrence and co were all suddenly free agents and following his impressive debut in the narrow defeat to Gloucester last Saturday, van Grann feared the centre might not be at the club this week as it builds up to next Saturday’s game away at Saracens.

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“I’m not going to discuss contract detail but it’s an incredibly unique situation coming to us on loan and two days later what happened to Worcester,” said van Graan about Lawrence last weekend. “We’re glad that the Worcester players are currently at Bath. I really hope he [Lawrence] will be here next week. Unfortunately, I can’t say any more than I sure hope he’ll be here next week.”

By Monday night, a deal had been struck to secure Lawrence at Bath for the long-term and to have Lee-Warner until the end of the campaign. Negotiations with Valeriy Morozov and Ted Hill – the two other Worcester loanees – were said to be still ongoing.

A statement read: “Ollie Lawrence has signed a long-term deal at Bath Rugby. The 23-year-old made a great impact on his debut against Gloucester on Saturday, making over 50 metres from twelve carries and beating six defenders. Lawrence has seven England caps to his name and scored his debut Test try against the USA in the summer of 2021.

“Since debuting in the Gallagher Premiership in 2018/19, he has become an established midfield threat in the league and helped Worcester Warriors win the Premiership Rugby Cup last season. He has also made a name for himself in Europe with seven tries in twelve matches.

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“Fergus Lee-Warner has also committed to the club for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.
The Australian forward, who can play back row or lock, topped the statistical charts for tackles and offloads after round two of this season’s Gallagher Premiership. The 28-year-old previously competed in Super Rugby AU for Western Force.

“The club can confirm talks with Valeriy Morozov and Ted Hill are ongoing with regard to their long-term future at the club.”

Head of rugby van Graan said: “Ollie made a big impression on me straight away. On Saturday he gave us good gainline and provided good defensive pressure too. He has lovely footwork, an excellent hand-off and a very good rugby IQ. I believe he will make a real difference to Bath Rugby in the years to come.

“Fergus is a great guy and has incredible energy. He is a very versatile player and we are pleased to have him for the rest of the season.”

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J
JW 53 minutes ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

MP are a NZ side through and through, NZ is even having to pay for it.

Yes they caved to public demand, I bet it accomplished a lot of internal goals. They could have left it to the other groups, but I’m of the belief that they weren’t showing the capability to make it work as being a good reason for NZR to jump in and do it. I think it’s actually funded 50/50 between NZR and WR though.

(when nothing was stopping a pi player playing for any side in Super Rugby)

Neither is that fact true. Only 3 non NZ players are allowed in each squad.


I see you also need to learn what the term poach means - take or acquire in an unfair or clandestine way. - Moana have more slots for non eligible players (and you have seen many return to an NZ franchise) so players are largely making their own choice without any outside coercion ala Julian Savea.

Not one of these Kiwis and Aussies would go live in the Islands to satisfy any criteria, and I’d say most of them have hardly ever set foot in the islands, outside of a holiday.

Another inaccurate statement. Take Mo’unga’s nephew Armstrong-Ravula, if he is not eligible via ancestry in a couple of generations time, he will be eligible because he plays his rugby there (even if he’s only their for rugby and not living there), that is a recent change made by World Rugby to better reflect examples like Fabian Holland and Fakatava.

It’s becoming the jump-ship/zero loyalty joke that international League is.

Look I understand you’re reason to cry and make an example at any opportunity, but you don’t really need to anymore, other recent changes made by WR are basically going to stop the Ireland situation, and time (perhaps no more than a decade) will fix the rest.

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