Butch James could be leaving Bath © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Butch James

Tournaments/Tours: Super Rugby | Aviva Premiership

Teams: Bath Rugby | Lions | South Africa

Bath have fought off another bid for the services of Butch James but admitted that they may be prepared to let the South African fly-half return home at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old Springboks international, who is contracted to the Premiership club until the end of the 2011-12 season, was the subject of an enquiry from the Sharks last season and more recently he was the target of an approach from the Lions with both sides keen to lure him back to Super Rugby.

Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld has refused to allow the currently injured playmaker to quit the club mid-season but has hinted that he may allow him to follow club captain Luke Watson out of The Rec at the end of the current campaign.

"They [the Lions] are keen to build a relationship with us and take Butch back early," Blofeld told thisisbath. "But it remains the case that Butch is contracted with us and Butch is with us, certainly for this season. Both parties are fighting over a player for the same reasons. Butch is a brilliant leader and player, and we both want him in our squads.

"We have said categorically that we want him here until the end of the season. They want him to go back and build up to the World Cup over there. In an ideal world, South Africa would like him back playing in the Super 15. We will start discussions about a potential move at the end of the season."

James' Rugby World Cup hopes are currently on ice due to the shoulder problem he picked up during this year's Tri-Nations but his claims would undoubtedly be boosted by a return to Super Rugby or the Currie Cup prior to the tournament in New Zealand.

Blofeld admitted that the club are already looking to the future and are determined to secure an adequate replacement for James. In his absence this season, the No.10 jersey has been filled with mixed success by former Leicester utility back Sam Vesty.

"To replace Butch we need another world class fly-half," he said. "We are casting the net wide to find a person who could potentially fill his boots."