England star Olly Barkley has dropped a bombshell on Bath by quitting them to join fierce West Country rivals Gloucester.

Barkley will move to Kingsholm on a two-year contract during the summer, joining an all-star squad which currently includes the likes of Lesley Vainikolo, Iain Balshaw, Chris Paterson and Mike Tindall.

And it is a huge setback for Gloucester's Guinness Premiership title rivals Bath, whose England lock Steve Borthwick has already signed a four-year deal with Saracens next term.