Beauden Barrett now appears to be the more likely of the Barrett brothers to join Bristol Bears, with a fresh report casting doubt on the club's chances of signing both New Zealand stars.

Mail Sport reports that Bristol may only have the financial resources to bring one of the brothers to the PREM, with Beauden emerging as the more realistic option.

The 35-year-old's potential arrival could be linked to the future of current Bristol fly-half AJ MacGinty, whose contract is due to expire.

Scott Barrett, meanwhile, could prove a more difficult signing to complete if the club can only afford one member of the famous rugby family.

Both brothers are contracted to New Zealand Rugby until the end of 2027 and are expected to play key roles in the All Blacks' World Cup campaign in Australia.

Any move to England would therefore come after the tournament, potentially marking the end of their international careers as they explore a new challenge in the PREM.

Beauden will turn 36 in May 2027 but remains one of the finest players of his generation.

Equally effective at fly-half and fullback, he made his All Blacks debut in 2012 after establishing himself with Taranaki and the Hurricanes.

His finest individual achievements came in 2016 and 2017, when he won back-to-back World Rugby Player of the Year awards.

He became only the second player to win the honour in consecutive years, following legendary former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.

Barrett also made an immediate impact on the international stage, winning his first 19 consecutive Test matches for the All Blacks.

A move overseas would not be unfamiliar territory for the playmaker. He has already enjoyed two sabbaticals in Japan with Toyota Verblitz, experiences he has credited with helping to prolong his career.

A switch to English rugby would provide another opportunity to test himself in a different environment, potentially bringing his international journey to an end while continuing to compete at the highest level.

Both brothers have been linked with potential moves to European clubs following the 2027 World Cup, although their respective destinations remain uncertain.

However, this latest update suggests Beauden could be the more realistic target for Bristol, particularly with a vacancy potentially opening up at fly-half.

Securing a player of his calibre would represent a major statement of intent from the Bears and a significant boost for the PREM, with one of the modern era's most decorated All Blacks potentially heading to English rugby.

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