England: Ellis Genge rejects ‘audacious bid’ and decides his long-term future

Jared Wright
England prop Ellis Genge and Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam

Genge has decided his long-term future after reports of a mega-money move.

England and Bristol Bears prop Ellis Genge has decided his future after reports of an audacious bid to lure him into a code switch.

A report by iNews stated that Warrington’s CEO Karl Fitzpatrick had built a relationship with Genge and hoped to entice him into a code switch, launching a bid to do so.

Genge’s contract with Bristol Bears was set to expire at the end of the current season, and had he made the switch to league, his salary would not have counted toward the club’s cap.

Ellis Genge’s decision

However, Bristol moved quickly to silence the rumours, announcing on Monday that the loosehead prop had signed a new long-term contract with the West Midlands team.

“This club and city mean so much to me, so I am proud to be committing my long-term future here,” said Genge.

“I have said before that I am as passionate about playing for Bristol as I am about playing for England, so it was an easy decision to stay.

“I have loved being back down here, close to my family in a city I have always called home, and I am really excited about what this group of players can achieve over the next few years.”

The decision to remain in union and with Bristol is a major boost to England boss Steve Borthwick, who worked with the prop during his time in charge of Leicester Tigers.

Genge captained Borthwick’s Tigers and has also held the leadership role on two occasions during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The 62-time international missed the July internationals through injury but is bound to return to the squad for the upcoming Autumn Tests.

England: Predicting the 25 players who will be offered new enhanced EPS contracts, including bold prop call

Meanwhile, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam feels there is plenty more still to come from the loosehead prop.

“Ellis has already achieved a lot of great things in his career, but what excites me most about Ellis committing long-term to the Bears is his hunger and desire to be even better in every part of his game on and off the field,” Lam said on the Bristol club website.

“He is a passionate and proud Bristolian, which comes through massively in his leadership skills as he drives others to be at their best for the team and our community.

“We are all really pleased Ellis is staying as he is a massive part of our team, and I look forward to seeing the big things he is going to achieve for both club and country moving forward.”

Springboks double World Cup winner could cash in on big French move ahead of impending retirement

Lee Dickson joins Newcastle

Elsewhere in the Premiership, former England scrum-half Lee Dickson has joined Newcastle Falcons as skills coach.

Dickson will work on a consultancy basis at Kingston Park, combining his role with duties as master in charge of rugby at Barnard Castle School.

The ex-scrum-half won 18 England caps and made almost 50 appearances for Newcastle before joining Northampton, where he helped them win the Premiership title and reach a European Champions Cup final.

“Lee was an exceptional player and is an aspiring coach who holds Newcastle Falcons close to his heart, so we would be silly not to try and tap into that,” Newcastle’s consultant rugby director Steve Diamond said.

“He has got a lot to add from a skills and scrum-half perspective, he is living in the area and he’s keen to get involved, so it is a partnership which works well from all sides.”

READ MORE: England legend Dean Richards on what constitutes ‘par’ in autumn as All Blacks and Springboks showdowns await