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Lewis Boyce and Michael Etete have left Bath with immediate effect
By Liam Heagney
Forwards Lewis Boyce and Michael Etete have exited Bath for playing opportunities elsewhere. The 26-year-old prop Boyce has joined Championship leaders Ealing Trailfinders while the 25-year-old lock Etete is heading to Australia.
A statement read: “Bath Rugby can confirm Lewis Boyce has joined Championship side Ealing on a permanent deal. The loosehead prop joined in 2019 and debuted in a 36-28 victory over Worcester Warriors in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
“Since his debut, he has been a key member of the front row, which aided Bath’s route to the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership play-offs. In total, Boyce has made 52 appearances for the club and has been a much-loved member of the squad.
“He joins up with Championship side Ealing Trailfinders, who currently sit top of the table. The club would like to thank Lewis for everything he's given to Bath Rugby over the last four seasons.
“Bath can also confirm Michael Etete has left the club and is now pursuing an opportunity in Australia. The 25-year-old debuted in the Premiership Rugby Cup this season in a derby against Gloucester Rugby and made four appearances in total. Everyone at Bath Rugby would like to wish Michael all the best for the future.”
In a separate statement, Ealing boss Ben Ward said: “In what is a crucial point for us in the season, we are delighted to have signed someone of Lewis’s calibre and experience. He is such an exciting player both in the set-piece and around the park and we’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do in a Trailfinders shirt.”
Boyce added: “I’m excited to move to west London and make a strong impact. Ealing have been in powerful form this season and I’m excited to get stuck in straight away and help the squad achieve their goals this season."
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Latest Comments
I think you have gone in the wrong direction here Nick. I think you need to delve down into the rules etc around Moana Pacifica’s selection policies and then you need to understand that a lot of KIWI BORN rugby players have PI heritage. It appears ok for the 4 home nations to pillage NZ born players constantly without retribution but you want to question whether NZ BORN players should be eligible for NZ? Seems a real agenda in there.
Go back and look at the actual Aims and agenda for MP becoming a entity and you see lots of things enshrined in policy that you arnt mentioning here. EG there is an allowance for a percentage of MP to be NZ eligible. This was done so MP could actually become competitive. Lets be real. If it wasnt this way then MP would not be competitive.
There also seems to be some sort of claim ( mainly from the NH ) that NZ is “cashing in” on MP, which , quite frankly is a major error. Are you aware of how much MP costs NZR Financially?
39 NZ born rugby players played at the last world cup for Samoa or Tonga. PLUS plenty for Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
Taumoefolau is a BORN AND BRED NZer. However I very strongly doubt he will be an AB, but who do you believe he should be allowed to play for? Levi Aumua is ALSO a born and bred Kiwi.
Aumua was eligible to represent Samoa and Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup in July that year but ended up playing for neither. He IS eligible for his nation of Birth too Nick
He is a Kiwi. Are you saying an NZ born, raised Kiwi cant play for NZ now?
Sorry Nick Kiwi born and bred actually qualify for NZ.
Go to commentsYeah, Richie certainly stepped up for the ABs in 2022 and 2023 and proved he could translate his skills into the test arena. You have to understand many fans checked out at that point though, only to tune back in for a directionless WC final.
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