Beno Obano, Bath Rugby’s loosehead prop and England international, is set to join French Top 14 club Pau following the conclusion of the 2026/27 season, according to BBC Sport. The 31-year-old, currently in the final year of his contract with Bath, had reportedly been in discussions with Investec Champions Cup winners Bordeaux-Begles over a possible move and even visited their training base during Bath’s August break. However, Obano has ultimately decided to head south to Pau, situated near the Pyrenees.
Obano has been recognised as one of the premier looseheads in the Gallagher Premiership for several years. Despite this, his recent presence on the international stage has been intermittent. He earned his fifth England cap during the recent July defeat to South Africa, a match interrupted by a hamstring injury from which he is still recovering.
The BBC reports that Obano is expected to remain eligible for England selection until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup, though his inclusion in the squad to Australia is not guaranteed. England boasts strong options at loosehead, including Bristol Bears' Ellis Genge, who is widely regarded as a world-class player and serves as the squad’s vice-captain. Other contenders for the position include Fin Baxter, who is returning from foot surgery to play for Harlequins, alongside Northampton Saints' Emmanuel Iyogun and Sale Sharks' Bevan Rodd.
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While Obano’s role in the England setup may be limited, he remains a key figure at Bath. Under head of rugby Johann van Graan, Obano has established himself as the club’s first-choice loosehead prop. Scotland international Jamie Bhatti joined Bath from Glasgow Warriors this summer, primarily to cover for Francois van Wyk, who has moved to Connacht.
The departure of Springbok prop Thomas du Toit, who leaves Bath to join The Sharks in Durban, increases Obano’s importance within Bath’s forward pack. Obano’s strong performances in tight exchanges close to the try line have become vital to Bath’s physical playing style. Last season, du Toit made headlines by scoring ten tries, including a hat-trick against Leicester. Obano himself crossed the try line seven times, notably scoring in the semi-final defeat to Exeter Chiefs.
In positive news for Bath’s front row stability, the club successfully persuaded giant tighthead prop Will Stuart to re-sign last season, turning down interest from Sale Sharks. Looking ahead, recruitment head Bryn Cunningham will prioritise securing a high-quality loosehead prop to replace Obano ahead of the 2027/28 campaign. While promising young talent such as Scott Kirk is progressing through the Bath academy, he is not yet ready for consistent top-flight rugby.