The Bristol chairman Malcolm Pearce, who is looking to move the club from the Memorial Stadium, yesterday proposed to groundshare with rivals Bath at a new purpose-built venue.

"The west country has been sadly neglected, to the detriment of all sports," said Pearce. "Sharing with Bath would give supporters in the west country the chance to watch Premiership rugby every weekend." Bath may be forced to move out of their Recreation Ground because the ground's capacity is less than the 10,000 minimum in the top flight.

The Bath hooker, Jonathan Humphreys, will return to Cardiff on Saturday, three months after ending his 13-year career at the Arms Park, when the two clubs meet in a pre-season friendly. The former Wales captain said he would probably not have left Cardiff had he known that David Young would be appointed head coach in succession to the South African Rudy Joubert.

Wales yesterday announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Rockport, a subsidiary company of their kit suppliers, Reebok. The Newport owner, Tony Brown, has flown to South Africa to finalise the signing of the Springbok full-back Percy Montgomery.