Bristol Bears linked with signing 23-cap Welsh international forward

Pat Lam is reported to be lining up a move to potentially sign two tighthead props ahead of the 2024/25 season with England star Kyle Sinckler expected to leave Bristol Bears at the end of the current campaign.

The Bristol director of rugby looks to have landed 31-year-old Harlequins frontrower Lovejoy Chawatama already, although a deal for the former London Irish powerhouse is yet to be announced, and The Rugby Paper reports Lam has also held talks with Dragons and Wales tighthead Leon Brown about moving across the bridge. Brown, 27, is out of contract at Rodney Parade in the summer and while discussions have been held to keep him at the United Rugby Championship side, the same publication states terms have yet to be agreed between the parties.

Newport-born Brown made his senior international debut in 2017 against Australia and has been capped 23 times by Wales, making his most recent outing in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, but was not included in Gatland's training squad for last summer's Rugby World Cup. Crucially if Brown leaves the Dragons before reaching 25 caps he will become ineligible for selection for his country under the WRU rules which could have a big impact on his decision.

Meanwhile, Scottish URC side Edinburgh have confirmed Bristol have spoken to their Fijian international number eight Viliame ‘Bill’ Mata about a potential move to the Premiership in the summer when his current contract expires. Speaking last week, Edinburgh senior coach Sean Everitt said: “Who wouldn’t want Bill Mata in their franchise after the way he performed in the World Cup? There will be a lot of our players being spoken to behind our backs, that is just the nature of the game. Bill is one of the best players in his position and a sought-after player, but we just don’t know at this stage what the final offers are.”

Mata, 32, is reported to currently earn more than £400,000 a season. Everitt continued: “Players (like Bill) that are world-class demand a big pay cheque and that is fair."

“As a person, we would be delighted to keep him here. He is a great man who gets on well with everybody in the group. He is well-liked in the squad and that plays a big part in trying to keep someone here and gives us hope, but at the end of the day we are not in control of the finances. Whatever comes of it, we’ll support him either way. We know he is popular with the Edinburgh fans too and it would be great if Edinburgh could keep him.”