Bristol Tiger wrote:
Unless lawyers have been busy and the clause is likely to be unenforceable due to restraint of trade.
If Ford's contract is ending this season (which I don't think is the case) it is almost certainly unforeceable to have any "restricted work" clause that lasts post contract. I.e. He is a free agent and goes where he wants.
However, if he is in contract, the he needs to negotiate an exit and that can come with all sorts of strings attached. Maybe Bath have stated he I not allowed to go and play for a top four club ... so fine coming to Tigers at the moment!![/quote]
Or Tigers strike a deal with another club they have a good relationship with - Bristol, say, sign Ford then Tigers pay a small fee to loan him for the season.
Potentially I am not sure that Bath can stop him buying himself out of the final year of his contract though, if Tigers were willing to add that cost onto his salary.