LEONE NAKARAWA has moved a step closer to a Glasgow Warriors return according to the French media, although there is fierce competition for his signature.
It has been claimed that Warriors managing director Nathan Bombrys made contact with the player while in France for Saturday’s Champions Cup tie in La Rochelle and made an offer which is understood to be for two and a half seasons. The rugby newspaper Midi Olympique reports that Nakarawa has verbally accepted the offer.
Nakarawa was sacked by Racing 92 last week after returning late from the World Cup. The club’s president Jacky Lorenzetti stated that it was not the Fijian’s first offence and he did not want to create exceptions for his star players. Nakarawa was Racing’s second highest paid player, on a reported annual salary of around €600,000.
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In addition to a possible return to Warriors, he has attracted interest from Sale Sharks, Clermont Auvergne, Lyon and Bayonne.
The latter club contacted its sponsors over the weekend to seek their support with funding, and they have agreed to finance a deal. Not regarded as one of the French financial heavyweights, Bayonne have operated on a tight budget – believed to be the reason for failing to offer Johnnie Beattie a contract extension in the summer – but a low wage bill means there is more headway than at many other French clubs in terms of the salary cap.
The newspaper states that the club’s Fijian players Viliamu Afatia and Census Johnstone contacted Nakarawa and Bayonne subsequently made an offer of a six month contract, starting on 1st January.
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Midi O’ also saying he is near to signing for Bayonne.