Bath and England prop Beno Obano has agreed to join French Top 14 side Pau from next season, becoming the latest England international to move abroad and effectively put his Test career on hold. Because head coach Steve Borthwick can only select players based in the English Premiership, the move likely rules Obano out of future England contention, following a similar pattern with other players who have departed for France.

Obano, 31, won his fifth cap coming off the bench in July's defeat by South Africa, but is not on a central contract and faces competition from younger loose-heads such as Fin Baxter, Emmanuel Iyogun and Bevan Rodd. Unlike Tom Willis, who was immediately dropped after announcing his move to Bordeaux-Bègles, Obano may still be considered for selection this season and, since he will be based in France by the 2027 World Cup year, could remain eligible for that tournament. He joins a growing group of England-qualified players in France, including Jack Willis, Kyle Sinckler and Billy Vunipola, while Bath continue to see front-row changes following Thomas du Toit's departure and Jamie Bhatti's arrival.