Considering that Bath will have paid compensation to Bradford, a signing on fee to Hape and his contract up to now. I doubt they'd be that keen to release him from his contract before the end of his first season there.

Unless, the team singing him agreed a decent compensation figure with Bath or the player bought his own contract out. Rugby players aren't on the same wages as a Champions League level soccer player so the latter is unlikely and can you really see Mcmanus or Hetherington paying out a substantial amount of money to sign a player who's knees are shot and who hasn't had a break since November 2007.

Shonny was a good servant to the club.

His top flight RL, IMHO, is well behind him now. Given his last year or so with us I don't think we ought to be even consider signing him, if any of this rumor is true of course. . .

I hope we signed him up to a "Harris" agreement before he left, that way we'd benefit again if he came back to RL.

Would I take him back at the Bulls? Going on what he showed for us last season I'd say no, unless he was on a much reduced contract. As an attacking threat he seemed to have lost it. Any club wanting to sign him ought to check out some videos of him in action in 2008 before putting any big money up.

Hang on, shouldn't the club first head north and consult stuck record DJ Marquee Eddie as to whether signing Hape would count as a "marquee signing"?

If we could get him back on a significantly reduced deal then it could be a shrewd bit of business. we get paid by bath, dont have to pay him for second half of last season and get him re-signed on less money. Big question is whether he can ever get his fitness back up to an acceptable level. imo a lot of last years performances were due to him not wanting to get injured and jeopardise the move to union for big money. If he came back fully committed and with a point to prove then it might be a different story and he's not too old to successfully turn it round.

could be interesting to watch

Times move on and I'll remember Shonny as the best centre I ever saw (including Newlove) in a Bulls shirt. His last two seasons were a sign of things to come and he should stay at Bath if he's any sense.

Gareth Raynor bought out his Leicester contract to return to us. Think it was quite a big one iirc, maybe not as big a one as Hape, but still

How long did Raynor have left on his contract though?

I think Hape signed quite a long deal and he's only been there half of his first season.

Unless stevo#4 confirms it, ignore this rumour is all I'm saying.

Hape is coming back to league is he. Well i hope it's not for us the way he tossed off for 6 momnths with us last season left a sour taste in my mouth. He's made his bed time to lie in it Mr Hape.

I wouldn't see why Leeds would be interested in a league player who last played league in a very poor team.

I realise that this is a rubbish attempt at trolling Lenny but it also does not make any sense. There are good players out there who play with rubbish sides that Leeds, I am sure, would be interested in.

Sam Burgess perhaps?

Agree entirely!

Eddie, it's the first hours of a brand spanking new year, and you're supposedly a Bulls fan, on the Bulls board. I ken Hogmanay has nae lightened your mood, but don't you think on reflection that a Bulls fan, on the Bulls board, before a pass has been thrown, calling your team "a rubbish side" is a bit poor form on your part?

Why would Leeds need Sam when they have his more promising brother?