ON THE BLINDSIDE
BY NEIL FISSLER

London Irish are close to agreeing to a new contract with Ben Loader as they look to stop a player exodus that has seen Tom Parton join Saracens and Ollie Hassell-Collins Leicester.
Loader, 23, had also been attracting interest from Premiership champions Tigers after scoring a hat-trick against Bath earlier this season and will be welcome news for the Exiles.
There have been rumours the club, who only have Bristol below them in the Premiership table, had withdrawn offers to two players despite being in advanced talks.

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