Ireland's outstanding young locks, Malcolm O'Kelly and Jeremy Davidson, look set to leave London Irish to play with Bath and Castres respectively next season. The big-spending French club had initially held discussions with O'Kelly, but have now set their sights on Davidson, who is still on course to return to the game early next season and will shortly be entitled to leave London Irish under the terms of his contract.
Meanwhile, Bath, the European Cup holders, still have O'Kelly at the top of their summer shopping list and are willing to buy out his contract at London Irish, despite a reported £150,000 price tag and the club's unwillingness to release him.
Ultimately, the Sunbury club could be facing the prospect of forcing an unhappy player to remain with them, and run the risk of a Bosman-type court case. O'Kelly is as keen to join Bath as the club are in capturing him.
Wales suffered their third successive tour defeat but gave themselves encouragement for nest week's rugby Test with a hugely improved second half performance against South Africa's top province in Durban yesterday, losing by 30 points to 23.
