WASPS have earmarked a raid on Worcester Warriors to take fly-half Billy Searle back to the Ricoh Arena at the end of the season.
Wasps boss Lee Blackett wants Searle to replace former All Black Lima Sopoaga, whose move to Top 14 outfit Lyon was finally confirmed last week.
Exeter-born Searle, 25, who started his career at Launceston, helped Bristol win promotion to the Premiership and Cornwall claim the County Championship.
Searle is under contract at Sixways until 2023 after joining the club ahead of the 2020-21 campaign but has clauses in his contract which allow him to leave.
The Premiership table's basement dwellers will be keen to make sure that Searle's name isn't added to the 20 players Jonathan Thomas claims are leaving the club this summer.
Wasps fans, furious when Searle was allowed to leave for Warriors, will be delighted that he could be coming back this summer.
BY NEIL FISSLER
