BRISTOL Bears are trying to encourage Gloucester centre Mark Atkinson to swap the bottom of the Premiership for the top next season.
Atkinson, 31, signed a new contract to remain at Kingsholm in January 2020 but has got a break clause due to having to take a 25 per pay cut.
It is one of the worst kept secrets in the South-West that Bears boss Pat Lam is a big fan of Atkinson, who almost walked away from the game to work in the City ten years ago.
Sale Sharks and Wasps had released him, and then Esher were relegated from the Championship, which made him question his future in the game.
A...