Hape keeping options open

[TRF_Cymro]

London Irish and Wasps are leading the race to sign England centre Shontayne Hape from Bath.

Hape, who is out of contract in the summer, is believed to have become frustrated after talks over a new deal at the Rec stalled.

And Bath look to have already pre-empted Hape's departure by signing Dan Hipkiss from Leicester - while the club are also in talks with All Black fly-half/centre Luke McAllister.

Wasps and the Exiles are both keen on bolstering their midfields, with the 29-year-old Hape now weighing up his options.

The Exiles have already signed Joe Ansbro for next season, but they will lose Seilala Mapusua at the end of the current campaign.

Hape joined Bath in 2008 from rugby league outfit Bradford Bulls - with the New Zealander going on to become an integral part of England's plans.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3823_6737859,00.html​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lose Hape, gain Hipkiss and McAlister

Bath must be bloody happy with that deal

 

[smiffymies]

exactly. No loss there!
Where would he fit in better though?
wasps or the exiles?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Neither, to be fair
Wasps have Flutey and Waldouck,
Exiles have Seveali'i/Bowden and Ansbro

Exiles would probably be the better shout, but neither really need him (replacing Mapusua with Hape would be a huge step down)

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

If wasps sign another centre i'll be pretty annoyed. We have no fly half options, 'specially with Walder now leaving, a poor front row(mainly Taulafo's fault but Payne hardly helps), underpar second row and a reliable but ageing backrow. We're not a rich club at all, but how we could have just accepted Skivington and Palmer leaving when they did and only bring in Cannon...just don't understand.

Oh and Betsen's leaving.

So Wasps need a new tight-head, second row, open-side flanker, and fly half, but not Hape.

 

[munstermuffin]

Where is Betsen going to

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I presume retiring?
He's 37ish

 

[munstermuffin]

Kinda guessed that myself just never heard it announced. Was a class act in his day for Biarritz and France