Beno Obano, the Bath Rugby loosehead prop, is set to join French Top 14 side Pau following the completion of the 2026/27 campaign, according to reports from BBC Sport.
At 31 years old and in the final year of his contract with Bath, Obano has recently been linked with a potential transfer to Bordeaux-Bègles, the Investec Champions Cup winners. He reportedly engaged in discussions with the club this summer and even visited their training centre during Bath’s August break. However, the England international has ultimately opted to move further south to Pau, situated near the Pyrenees.
Despite consistently ranking among the best looseheads in the Gallagher Premiership over recent years, Obano has only recently re-established himself on the international scene. He earned his fifth cap for England during the July defeat by South Africa but was forced off early due to a hamstring injury, from which he is still recovering.
READ MORE: A Closer Look at the Transformation of a Once ‘Ghost Town’ Shopping Centre
READ MORE: M5 Summer Traffic Leads to Significant Delays
BBC Sport suggests that Obano is likely to remain eligible for England selection until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Nevertheless, selection is far from guaranteed, given England’s strength in the loosehead position. Bristol Bears' Ellis Genge is widely regarded as one of the world’s top players and serves as England’s vice-captain. Additionally, Fin Baxter is expected to return from foot surgery with Harlequins this month, while Northampton Saints' Emmanuel Iyogun and Sale Sharks' Bevan Rodd are also competing for the number one jersey.
While Obano holds a peripheral role in the England squad, he remains a key figure for Bath under head of rugby Johann van Graan. He has firmly established himself as Bath’s first-choice loosehead prop.
This summer, Scotland international Jamie Bhatti joined Bath from Glasgow Warriors, primarily seen as a successor to Francois van Wyk, who departed for Connacht. Moreover, with Springbok prop Thomas du Toit leaving to join The Sharks in Durban, Obano’s prowess in the tight exchanges near the try line has become increasingly vital to Bath’s physical playing style.
Du Toit gained attention last season for scoring 10 tries for Bath, including a hat-trick against Leicester Tigers. Obano also made a significant impact, crossing the try line seven times, notably scoring in the semi-final defeat to Exeter Chiefs.
On a positive note for Bath’s front row depth, Johann van Graan secured the re-signing of the towering tighthead prop Will Stuart last season, fending off interest from Sale Sharks.
Looking ahead to the 2027/28 season, securing a high-quality replacement loosehead prop will be a priority for Bath’s head of recruitment, Bryn Cunningham. While promising young players like Scott Kirk are emerging from Bath’s academy, they are not yet ready for regular top-tier rugby.