Bristol have launched a massive recruitment drive for next season, with Harlequins tighthead Lovejoy Chawatama set to become their first recruit.
The former London Irish and England student inter national is believed to have agreed to join the Bears with Kyle Sinckler set to travel to Toulon in the new year for a medical.
Zimbabwe-born Chawatama, 31, was a Pat Lam target when London Irish went out of business. He opted to join Quins but will move at the end of this season.
He might not be the only tighthead to arrive at Ashton Gate next summer after Bristol held talks with Dragons and Wales star Leon Brown.
Brown, 27, whose career has been hit by neck and shoulder injuries, has won 23 caps for Wales and is out of contract with his hometown club at the end of the season but hasn’t yet agreed on terms with the Bears. He has made 68 appearances for the Dragons and played for Cross Keys in the Welsh Premiership.
The Bears are also showing an interest in Edinburgh and Fiji No.8 Bill Mata, who joined Edinburgh in 2016 and was voted PRO14 Players’ Player of the Year in 2019.
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