Rugby Union: Bristol clamp down on Corry

Bristol have threatened to take legal action against Martin Corry, their captain, if he tries to leave them this summer. Corry still has a year to run on his contract and the club have told the 23-year-old England international that he will not be going anywhere even though he is considering a deal to join Leicester.

Alan Davies, the coach, said: "He is either going to be in a legal dispute with us or he will play for Bristol next season. It is not good and the sooner we sort out some uniformity for the sport, the better. It has happened in soccer and we will not have clubs chasing players who are in contract." Corry said no decision on his future had been made and refused to comment further.

Davies added that Bristol's leading talent, the former Lions and record- breaking Wales scrum-half, Robert Jones, will still be at the Memorial Ground despite overtures from Bath over the last few weeks. Davies said: "We are keeping Robert next season."

Bristol are also on the point of adding two new international signings to their squad next season. Both the players, who have played for their respective countries but who Bristol refuse to name, have been in protracted talks with senior staff from the Memorial Ground.

This comes in the wake of three new signings for the club in the Aberavon No 8, Steve Pearce, his club-mate, Gareth Barber, a scrum-half, plus the the former Wales international lock, John Wakeford, from Cardiff.

Davies said: "John is well built to provide quality ball and had a good season with Cardiff. I think he is the sort of player who will do well in the English set-up. Steve and Gareth have made an excellent contribution with Aberavon in the Welsh Division Two and, given the opportunity to play at this level of rugby, they will develop very quickly." Bristol have already lost England lock Simon Shaw to Wasps and are still in negotiations with Bath who hope to buy out the final year of Mark Regan's contract.

Wakeford, 30, who has won two caps for his country, said: "I was getting a little stale after so many seasons with Cardiff and needed a new challenge. I don't think this will be the case with Bristol because there are so many good clubs in the English league that it produces a consistently high standard of rugby."