Montpellier have backed off from a bold bid to sign England winger Joe Cokanasiga, after Bath Rugby demanded a £200,000 transfer fee, according to RugbyPass.
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The Top 14 club were interested in bringing the 27-year-old to the GGL Stadium, but the asking price proved a step too far.
The Fijian-born flyer, who was rubbed the next Lomu earlier in his career, recently helped Bath clinch an historic domestic and European treble, lifting the Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup, and European Challenge Cup in a standout season. Montpellier, who’ve already signed Donovan Taofifenua from Racing 92, are now expected to explore other options on the wing.
From Army camps to international caps
Cokanasiga’s journey began far from the spotlight. Born in Fiji, he moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was serving in the British Army. The family’s postings took them across Germany and Brunei, where Joe even played alongside his dad for the Army Vets as a centre pairing before settling in the UK in 2013.
He made his senior rugby debut on his 17th birthday for Old Merchant Taylors FC, and despite playing only part of the season, finished as the club’s top try-scorer. In 2015, he joined the London Irish Academy, made waves in the Sevens setup, and signed a senior deal a year later. His full debut came in the RFU Championship in 2016 — and he scored a cracker of a try.
Bath career and England breakout
In 2018, Cokanasiga moved to Bath on a three-year contract, later extended in 2021. At The Rec, he’s developed into one of the most destructive wingers in the league. His blend of pace and power made him a nightmare for defenders — and a key figure in Bath’s treble-winning season.
Internationally, he’s no stranger to the big stage. After coming through the England U18 and U20 ranks, Eddie Jonescalled him up in 2017. Injury delayed his debut, but he eventually earned his first Test cap in November 2018 against Japan, scoring a try on debut and repeating the feat a week later against Australia.
He was part of England’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, scoring two tries against the USA, but a knee injury ruled him out for much of the following year. Another strong comeback in 2021 saw him score four tries across matches against the USA and Canada, though injury troubles returned soon after.
Staying put — for now
Despite recurring injuries, Cokanasiga has delivered when fit, with 12 tries in his first 12 Tests — a remarkable strike rate. His loyalty to Bath was reaffirmed when he signed a new contract in 2022, keeping him in Blue, Black and Whiteuntil summer 2027.
With Montpellier now out of the running, the powerful winger remains a key part of Bath’s plans — and still very much in the frame for an England recall.
EDITORS PICKS:
“Woeful” – David Campese Slams FOUR Lions Stars Including Marcus Smith
The British and Irish Lions’ 28–24 defeat to Argentina in Dublin on Friday night has sent shockwaves through the rugby world — marking their first opening tour loss since 1971.
Make no mistake, this wasn’t just any warm-up clash. The Pumas came to play, and they delivered a brutal wake-up call to Andy Farrell’s side just one week out from their first hit-out on Australian soil.
While Farrell was quick to give credit to the South Americans, Wallabies legend David Campese didn’t hold back. In a brutally honest assessment, Campese ripped into FOUR Lions players, slamming their performances as “woeful,” “dismal,” and “simply not good enough” for Lions level.
Here’s who felt the full force of Campo’s wrath in his
column for PlanerRugby.
1. Duhan van der Merwe – “Dismal display under the ball”
Campese was particularly scathing about van der Merwe’s failure to compete in the air, despite his physical stature:
“I simply can’t understand how Duhan van der Merwe, a man of 6’5”, fails under the high ball in the way he does.”
He pointed out van der Merwe’s aerial struggles as a key weakness that Argentina exploited:
“He’s bloody massive yet managed only one from five in the air in a dismal display under the ball.”
2. Tommy Freeman – “Turned over four times”
While Campese acknowledged Freeman’s work rate and attacking contributions, he didn’t hold back on his vulnerability at the contest and breakdown:
“Tommy Freeman worked hard — 15 carries and the most line breaks — but he was turned over four times — twice in the air and twice on the floor.”
This vulnerability, according to Campese, made it difficult for the Lions to build any continuity:
“That aerial battle — Rodrigo Isgro and Ignacio Mendy absolutely cleaned the Lions out at the contestibles.”
3. Marcus Smith – “Come on!”
Campese was perhaps most passionate in his argument that Smith should not be playing at full-back:
“Yes, in attack he was threatening and he played a part in two of the Lions’ tries, but, and it’s a big but, Australia is the land of the physical, athletic full-back and the spiral bomb.”
He strongly criticised Smith’s suitability for the defensive responsibilities of the 15 jersey:
“The Lions simply cannot afford the luxury of Smith’s defence at 15. He doesn’t understand the positional requirements and he’s simply too small and light to compete one to one.”
Campese’s conclusion was blunt:
“Yes, as an impact player or starting ten, he will do a great job, but as a starting full-back? Come on!”
4. Jac Morgan – “A woeful personal performance”
Morgan received arguably the most damning assessment from Campese, who questioned whether he was even present on the pitch:
“I had to check to be sure Jac Morgan was even playing, such was his lack of impact.”
He pointed to Morgan’s low tackle count and lack of involvement in key areas:
“When your openside spends 55 minutes on the pitch, makes four carries for six metres, and manages six tackles (one every nine minutes!) you wonder why he’s failing to execute the basic roles of his position.”
Campese concluded sharply:
“He also failed to control anything around the drop zone… and generally went missing in action in a woeful personal performance.”
