Rugby Union: Bath deny mega-bid

Sunday 08 February 1998 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Bath rugby union club were yesterday talking down reports that a great deal of cash was about to be dispatched to Cardiff in exchange for the Welsh captain, Rob Howley. The European Cup winners are supposedly prepared to part with pounds 500,000, but while Andy Robinson, Bath's head coach, would neither confirm or deny the club's interest in the 27-year-old Lions scrum-half, he did say: "There's no way we will pay that sort of money for one player."

Bath, whose current scrum-half is the club captain, Andy Nicol, have been linked with Howley, who captained his country for the first time against Italy on Saturday, Bristol's former Lions scrum-half Robert Jones and South Africa's scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen.

The West Country club are also confident of signing the Pontypridd and Lions goalkicker, Neil Jenkins, who could link up with Howley in a new half-back partnership.

"I had a telephone call from Bath inquiring about Rob," Gareth Davies, the Cardiff chief executive, said. "They asked about his value and I threw them a steep figure. They called back the next day to say it was acceptable, but we haven't given them permission to speak to him yet. We need to sit down and talk to him."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in