Bath Make Move For Wallaby Centre

Bath Rugby are reportedly about to make a move to sign former Wallaby centre Ben Tapuai.

The Bath Chronicle understands the club are very keen on the Western Force playmaker, who is at home playing 12 or 13, and that initial talks have taken place.

Tapuai, 27, played all 12 of Western Force’s Super Rugby matches in the summer and is currently playing for Perth Spirit in Australia’s National Rugby Championship.

“He was a name that was bandied round a little while ago,” Bath’s director of rugby Todd Blackadder told the Chronicle.

“If he’s back on the market and we could bring him in, we’d love to.”

Blackadder said seven-cap Tapuai, who has also represented the Barbarians, caught his eye while he was in charge of Canterbury Crusaders.

“He’s done really well,” he said. “If we ever got to that point it would be fantastic, but we’re really focussed on what we need to do now, with the midfield we’ve got.

“We’ve definitely been hit hard in that area. We’ll bring in as many players as we need to cover injuries.

“Hopefully, not too many more. I think if we can get the midfielders we’re hoping to get, we’ll be fine.”