Beno Obano is set to become the latest English rugby player to take a temporary break from international Test matches by moving to France. He has agreed to join Pau, a team in the Top 14 league, from his current club Bath at the end of the upcoming season. Obano, a 31-year-old loose-head prop, earned his fifth cap for England in a recent match against South Africa, where he came on as a substitute for the first-choice player, Ellis Genge. England's national team is currently limited to selecting players based in England due to agreements between the Premiership clubs and the Rugby Football Union (RFU) regarding elite players. This restriction is particularly relevant for positions like loose-head prop, where there is already a strong group of younger players competing for a spot. These include Fin Baxter from Harlequins, Emmanuel Iyogun from Northampton, and Bevan Rodd from Sale, all of whom are younger than Obano. Additionally, Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour, a 22-year-old versatile player, can also play in the front row, adding to the competition. Despite this competition, it is unlikely Obano will be excluded from England’s selection this season, unlike the case with Tom Willis, who moved to Bordeaux-Begles in 2026. Willis was excluded from the squad despite a strong performance in the 2025 Six Nations and a central contract for the year, as coach Steve Borthwick focused on players available for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Obano, who does not have a central contract, will be available for that tournament, following the path of players like David Ribbans and Joe Marchant, who played in the 2023 World Cup after moving to France. Obano’s move to France will add to the list of notable English rugby talents currently playing in the country, including Jack Willis, Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola, Manu Tuilagi, Lewis Ludlam, and Sam Simmonds. His departure may create more challenges for Bath’s front row, especially after the recent departure of South African Thomas du Toit and the arrival of Scotland international Jamie Bhatti.