REPORTS | Harlequins Marcus Smith offered huge contract to stay

England hopeful Marcus Smith has been offered a new and improved contract by Harlequins, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The No 10 has an exit clause in his contract and has been linked with a move to Bath, but Quins are desperate to keep hold of the playmaker.

According to Midi Olympique, Smith turned down a big offer from Lyon last week, who have since turned their attentions to other targets including Munster’s JJ Hanrahan.

Smith, who was made the highest-paid teenager of all-time when he was handed a £230,000 per season contract in 2018, is thought to be looking to double his salary.

Quins are reportedly ready to use the money saved from letting Chris Ashton and Mike Brown, who is expected to join Newcastle Falcons, leave the club to fund the new contract for the 21-year-old.

Check out all the latest transfer news and rumours in our LIVE rugby transfer centre.

DID YOU KNOW? Born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina mother, Smith picked up the game of rugby union at the age of seven with Centaurs RFC when his family moved to Singapore

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LIST | 5 Premiership stars Eddie Jones should take a look at

1. Piers O’Conor (Bristol Bears)

It’s difficult to describe a player’s performance as perfect, but the centres display against Bath on Friday night may be as near to it as you may get. Since joining the Bears O’Conor is often an unsung hero, with international talent surrounding him but he showed that he can match those international performances, beating eight defenders and making 88 metres.

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