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According to The Roar, Super Rugby Pacific fans are set to miss out on one of their favourite stars next year, as Angus Bell looks set to activate a year abroad clause in his long-term Rugby Australia contract.
The Roar’s Chirsty Doran has reported that Bristol Bears and Ulster Rugby have been two of the most active clubs looking for a loosehead prop in the marketplace. As it stands, Ulster looks to be ahead in the race to sign the Wallabies bulldozer but no deal has been confirmed as of yet. Bristol Bears sit in a much more secure position in 4th on the Premiership table. Their coaching ticket is cemented with Pat Lam steering the ship and their attacking brand of rugby would mesh well with Bell.
However, Ulster have a track record of big-name signings, World Cup Springbok Steven Kitsoff was their most recent swing. Unfortunately, the signing didn’t quite go according to plan and the Stormers veteran was granted an early release before eventually retiring earlier this season.
Angus Bell is a key piece for this Waratahs side and has had a terrific season this year. His departure will be a considerable setback for a team in rebuilding mode. Dan McKellar has only just publicly called out some of his players for lackadaisical attitudes and work ethic and stated that there are no free passes for players as they look at their squad in the seasons ahead.
The Waratahs look set to lose Taniela Tupou after this season too. However, the former million-dollar man has had far less impact on the field as Bell and an astute general manager will see Tupou’s departure as an opportunity to reallocate some serious spending power.
Bell however is a different story. Yes, these year-abroad clauses are an essential part of RA’s bargaining power when it comes to locking down their stars, but the timing of Bell’s departure may hurt the hardest. It’s a big blow for the Sydney side who are in desperate need of wins on and off the field next season.
It’s believed that Angus Bell isn’t the only current Wallaby to have a “Sabbatical” clause in their contract. Len Ikitau in a roundabout way has essentially secured a sabbatical move to Exeter and it’s being reported that Tate McDermott and Rob Valentini are others who could look to engineer a year abroad. It’s unclear yet if Bell’s move follows the same structure as Jordie Barrett’s who joined Leinster after the November internationals concluded or if he’ll be departing for the start of the northern hemisphere season.
It’s a big blow for the Waratahs however it’s a terrific opportunity for Isaac Aedo Kailea to grab the number one shirt next season. Joe Schmidt and Mike Cron have invested a serious amount of time in Kailea and now RA have an opportunity to build on their depth in the front row.