Gareth Anscombe leapfrogs Irish star as Prem club enters bidding war for Wales 10

Leicester Tigers are set to go head-to-head with Provence Rugby to sign Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe when his one-year contract with Premiership rivals Gloucester expires at the end of the season.

Anscombe, 33, was recalled to the Wales squad and started their last three Six Nations defeats against Ireland, Scotland, and England after Matt Sherratt took over from Warren Gatland, who had overseen 14 consecutive losses.

The former New Zealand under-20 international, who has played 42 times for Wales, is keen to feature in the 2027 World Cup and has made 11 appearances for the Cherry and Whites so far this season.

He has proved his fitness after a long-term groin injury, having signed a one-year deal with Gloucester last May. Prior to that, he spent two seasons with the Ospreys following a five-year stint in Cardiff.

Provence, who are bidding for promotion to the Top 14, have sounded him out about a move to Stade Maurice David and are believed to have offered him a deal of around €12,000 a month to cross the Channel.

He would reunite with former Wales team-mate Tomas Francis, who joined Les Noirs - the three-time Fédérale 1 champions - from the Ospreys after the 2023 World Cup.

They are also home to former England and Northampton Saints back-row Teimana Harrison, who has played 19 of their 22 games this season but now faces a ban after being sent off in the defeat at Montauban last weekend.

The Tigers are growing increasingly desperate in their search to replace Handre Pollard, who is returning to the Bulls when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Owen Farrell has told them he intends to see out the final year of his contract with Racing 92, while an ambitious bid for Ireland star Jack Crowley is also tipped to fall through, leaving them scrambling for available options.