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BATH RUGBY V GLOUCESTER RUGBY

By Bath Rugby

February 18^th, 2021

COACH'S CORNER:

I was incredibly proud of our performance last Friday night. We trusted our game plan, our systems and our processes but most importantly we played together and for each other. This is what earned us our victory against Sale. A team who came into the game after an impressive win against Bristol.

Tonight sees our first home West Country derby of 2020/21 and despite not having both sets of supporters here to bring the atmosphere we’ve come to expect from these fixtures, we’re determined to honour the occasion on the field. We made progress, particularly defensively, in our performance last week and I’m confident we can keep building on that momentum into and beyond tonight’s fixture.

As was written in last week’s BRSC column, I know how important Bath Rugby is to our supporters, particularly during these times when getting behind your team offers some much-needed escapism. We will continue working hard for the jersey, each other and for our supporters and look forward to when we can all come back together again at the Rec.

I’d like to finish this edition of Coach’s Corner by paying tribute to Dave Egerton, the Bath, England and British & Irish Lions legend who sadly passed away last week. I know I speak for the entire Club when I say that Dave meant a lot to so many people at Bath both past and present. He was a formidable talent who played a pivotal role in such a defining era for the Club, and more recently brought his significant rugby knowledge to the Rec as part of BBC Bristol; he will be sorely missed in the commentary box. Our heartfelt love goes out to his wife Amanda, his two children, Will and Olivia and all of his family and close friends.

Hoops

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN:

Josh said in this column last week that our defence wasn’t where we needed it to be, and it’s been a huge area of focus for us. I hope that was evident in Friday’s performance against Sale. We knew it was going to be a tough contest and that we’d have to be tactically and physically on point to finish on top, and I was pleased with our efforts in both areas. Of course there is still more to be done to water-tight our defence - we shifted 12-points in the second half - but importantly, we are improving.

Tonight presents another challenge and an equally physical one. Gloucester are a dominant defensive side, topping the league for most tackles made and they’ll no doubt be smarting after a 1-point loss to Bristol, so we’ll need to be ready for them. Everything we’ve done in training this week has put us in the best possible position for tonight’s game and to continue building the momentum from last week.

As ever, thank you for your continued support. While you’re not able to be with us in person, we know you’re cheering us on in front of the TV; I can’t wait until the day we can get back to a packed-out Rec.

Ben

VIEW DYSON V11 ABSOLUTE HERE

A WELCOME FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE TARQUIN MCDONALD

Welcome to our Friday night fixture against local rivals Gloucester, always a fiercely contested match which last season went to the final quarter before we secured the bonus point victory.

Tonight we’re looking to back up last Friday’s impressive win at Sale and build some momentum in our season. It’s been a difficult start to the season for us and we’ve struggled to deliver the consistent 80-minute performances we saw during restart last summer on our way to the semi-finals. Last Friday was an important win for us - the squad showed massive character, commitment and composure with a fierce defensive display and some clinical moments of attack.

Whilst we remain focussed on developing our attacking game, Friday was a reminder of the importance to us of ensuring that we deliver the foundation pillars of our game around our platform and defence.

This season is being significantly disrupted due to its delayed start and the unprecedented number of overlaps with international weekends, along with the direct impact of COVID-19 on training and matches.

However, with disruption comes opportunity and we have all been immensely proud to see so many of our home-grown pathway players deliver outstanding performances; in some cases they have made their debuts for the Club, and in other cases they have consolidated their positions in the senior squad.

We shifted the focus and investment in our pathway four and a half years ago, and that strategy is starting to bear significant fruit in terms of the quality and quantity of emerging talent.

READ FULL UPDATE

BATH RUGBY WALK CHALLENGE 2021

Bath’s only rugby walk is back! The event, in aid of Dorothy House and Bath Rugby Foundation, will understandably look a little different this year, as walkers are encouraged to step out, step up and take the challenge to another level.

REGISTER NOW

In previous years upwards of 500 people have put their best foot forward, walking from Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley, to the home of Bath Rugby at the Rec. In 2021 however, for the first time, the charities are throwing down the gauntlet and participants can choose their very own rugby-themed distance walk over the Six Nations period (from February 6th to March 20th).

So if over the six-week period, you want to walk to the Rec, to the Principality Stadium (57 miles), to Twickenham (107 miles), or even Murrayfield (387 miles!) then it’s totally up to you.

If that isn’t enough encouragement, both charities will be spicing things up by introducing bonus points and a sporting blitz challenge laid down by some of Bath Rugby’s famous faces and Dorothy House’s own stars. There will be brilliant prizes for top fundraisers and individual blitz winners!

Hosting the event virtually this year ensures that you can still get outside, get fundraising, enjoy the rugby, and support two of Bath’s most loved charities!

The Bath Rugby Walk Challenge is FREE - and when you sign up, you’ll be sent an exclusive free T-shirt too! Wear your event T-shirt with pride as you take on your walk and take part in the weekly challenges.

All we ask is that you raise as much money as you can for our two incredible charities so that they can continue to provide vital services throughout our community.

READ STORY IN FULL

RHYS PRIESTLAND TO LEAVE BATH RUGBY

On Wednesday, Bath Rugby confirmed that Rhys Priestland is set to leave the Club at the end of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season to join Guinness Pro14 side Cardiff Blues. The fly-half joined the Blue, Black and White in 2015 and has gone onto make 109 appearances for the Club.

A prolific goal-kicker, Priestland has scored 810 points across domestic and European competitions, and won the Gilbert Golden Boot for most points scored in the 2019/20 season.

Priestland said: “I’ve loved my time at Bath. I’ve enjoyed turning up to Farleigh House every day, working with the players, coaches and all the staff there, and I’ve loved playing for the Club. The City is an amazing place to live as well. The people are so friendly, I’ve made so many friends and great memories."

READ STORY IN FULL

WIN A SIGNED SIX NATIONS SHIRT

To celebrate the Guinness Six Nations we are offering you FREE personalisation and the chance to win a signed shirt of your choice!

Purchase any replica shirt during the Guinness Six Nations to be automatically entered in a prize draw to win a signed replica shirt of your choice. Promotion available for purchases of any Home, Away or European shirt across the mens, womens and junior range. Winner can choose the shirt to be signed by any current Bath Rugby player.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN ENTER

BATH RUGBY DISTILLERY LAUNCH GIN, VODKA AND RUM!

Here’s something to raise your spirits! Bath Rugby Distillery have launched three unique spirits - London Dry Gin, Potato Vodka and Caribbean Rum.

At a time when we are more separated than ever, crowds are missing from our stands and supporters’ voices cannot be heard from our Swift Half - we wanted to bring some cheer.

We are launching three unique spirits to choose from, there is something for every taste with a London Dry Gin, Potato Vodka and Caribbean Rum, and each bottle gives a nod to our Bath Rugby replica kits. Which one are you? Purchase your favourite spirit, or collect them all!

SHOP NOW

VIEW THATCHERS CLOUDY LEMON

"CAMARADERIE...THE LOVE OF THE GAME" - DAVE EGERTON

Back in 2015 Bath Rugby celebrated its 150th anniversary, speaking to those past and present who have contributed to the club’s long, colourful history. A key figure in that story is Dave Egerton. The former Bath, England and British & Irish Lions number eight was a talisman figure during Bath’s glory days, emmassing 163 caps including five league and cup titles, respectively. Following the incredibly sad news of his passing last week, we take a look back at that 150th anniversary interview, a timely reminder of what made him a true Bath great.

Written in 2015 by Patrick J.Lennon. Edited for today’s programme.

It takes a special kind of person and a special type of player to be the number eight in any rugby team, let alone somewhere like Bath Rugby. More often than not, the behemoth of the back row is the talisman for a team, and unlike many of the positions, not much has changed in that regard in the modern era.

David Egerton was one such man during the eighties and early nineties at the Rec in a hugely impressive career spanning a decade, yielding seven England caps. The charismatic, mobile and prolific number eight who averaged something like a try every three games between September 1985 and January 1995 is reluctant to dwell too much on the past, saying:

“Sometimes I’m not keen about going on and on about our era, because it puts a lot of pressure on the modern day guys. Time moves on. We are in the past now and it’s about the future.”

His debut in September 1985 saw the young man born in Middlesex but based in Bristol, quickly accustomed to an abrasive but rewarding first team environment under Jack Rowell, as many of his peers have previously attested to. According to Dave, the great Head Coach created a winning culture and the baptism of fire was of huge benefit.

“As a youngster coming to training, you would be nervous, because you knew that if you didn’t give 100% on the training field, you’d get found out big time. And then the mickey would be thrown at you big time! You’ve probably heard the stories about scraps on the training field, it revolved around creating a sparkle, a bubble within the Club.

“Of course, that’s easy to do when you’re winning and on the up, in those days, all you had to be was slightly ahead of the game and it perpetuated itself. It was great fun.

“Bath had good backs when I arrived, the forwards had just started doing well - they had just won the John Player Cup against Bristol when I arrived. The two people who really made Bath Rugby Club really special during our era, were really making things happen were Roger Spurrell and Jack Rowell.”

Although Bath were blessed with a stellar cast, it was the sum of all parts which heralded and sustained the era of success in Somerset.

“People talk about Hally (John Hall) and Coochie (Gareth Chilcott) in the background but you know, rugby is a team sport, a collective sport. There is no one person who could have done it on their own.

“I think that every single player who played during that era was a special player, just to be able to get in the team in the first place. The old adage was, it’s not good enough to just be in the team, you’ve got to make a difference when you’re in there.”

Gathering on the north Bristol motorway for trips into the Welsh heartland, David and his mates cut their teeth, forged that reputation and mental strength required to succeed in adversity on the field in the Blue, Black and White. And adversity was a familiar bedfellow midweek:

“If the game wasn’t going well, which it frequently wouldn’t do, because on a wet Wednesday night in Wales it was a psychological challenge more than anything else, then you needed to be professional with a small ‘p’, because mentally you had to get prepared for what was going to happen.

“I can remember when I arrived, going over to Bridgend Sport, playing a bunch of little Welshmen in the forwards, we struggled. We had big athletic men in the forwards, people like John Morrison and Damian Cronin and myself all playing, and we couldn’t win a bloody lineout ball in the first half! We thought ‘What the hell is going on?!’

“That’s what toughened you up and tightened you up, no doubt about it. If things weren’t going well, Roger would do some subtle moves on the floor and then the next thing you know there’s a big punch up and we sorted it all out!

“We’d stand up, get in the huddle and he’d say, ‘Right, we’re in a war now!’ The adrenaline was pumping and you went out there and played.”

The correlation between applying pressure in preparation, to ensure performance when it matters was a winning formula for Dave. Rowell was a master tactician in that regard, stewarding his ’sack of badgers’ in the squad, cajoling, baiting and demanding excellence of execution on the training paddock.

“Jack was in an enviable position in that he could choose the players who were made of the right stuff in the first place, but then he’s got to force them to make decisions and be confident at the same time.

“If you manage people you have to prepare them. You have to put them in more extreme situations than you’ll find on the rugby pitch or a sales environment for example. That’s what Jack did."

“On the training field, well, you know the old saying, 'It’s good enough for England, not good enough for Bath...you’re drifting mentally today Edge' and all that sort of stuff - it was all designed to keep you on your toes. It also gave us a sparkle, because the rest of the lads would all laugh because they’d all had it as well.”

The modern demands of the number eight position are many, but David contended that of all the positions on a rugby field, not so much has changed in terms of the need for impact, speed and responsibility.

“I think that something all the national coaches have to get to grips with, is the changing roles of players. If the World Cup showed anything, and it was fairly obvious to those of us in Hong Kong before we came over here, that you have to have two ‘jackalers’, or what other people call ‘fetchers’, it’s absolutely crucial.

“It’s evolved, it used to be rangy Mervyn Davies, I was more like that. Then you had powerful Shelford. Your number eight to me has to be the fastest player in the back row, because in phase play from the set piece, he has still got to get out to where the breakdown is. The blind can drop in when it comes back the other way in general play, but your eight has to be able to read the cut back in, or the wide ball, and he has to change his angle."

But some things don’t change.

“People ask me a lot if the game is better or worse now, and by most metrics it has to be considered much better. It’s a cleaner sport, there is less thuggery, the ball is in play far more, people are fitter, from an economic point of view the business of rugby is doing well. The crowds are bigger, it’s more global, more participants etc.

“All I hope is that the game doesn’t lose the values that were instilled in me. Camaraderie, the love of the game, the social bonds it formed.”

Bath Rugby edge euphoric derby day spoils with stunning comeback to earn a bonus point win 31-20.

A stunning Bath Rugby bonus point comeback keeps the home sides title contentions alive.

Gloucester headed into this fixture with very little left to play for in league standings, but with local bragging rights always up for grabs and an opportunity to do the double over Bath Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership, it was never going to anything but a fiercely contested battle.

A sharp break from Lloyd Evans to feed the inside man set up the perfect start for Gloucester while in the second half, Matt Banahan’s try in the corner against his former club seem to dampen all hopes of a top four finish for the home side.

However, Bath’s resilient and determination came good, producing four tries in 18 dramatic minutes. An unbelievable sidestep on the wing from Joe Cokanasiga - who had been side-lined for 16 months - fed scrum half Ben Spencer to dive in the corner for bonus point victory.

REVISIT THE MATCH REPORT FROM SEPTEMBER

WELCOME GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Gloucester Rugby have been putting together some good performances in recent weeks, falling just short of the final hurdle with a win in reach.

Last Friday, the Cherry and Whites hosted Bristol at Kingsholm in what proved to be a tight game, the league toppers taking the victory by one point. Gloucester Rugby crossed the whitewash three times, once via Ollie Thorley and two from Santiago Carreras, but it wasn't enough to take victory with Ioan Lloyd’s accurate kicking securing an 18-17 win for the Bears.

While the Cherry and White currently find themselves at the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership, their recent performance against London Irish showed how much potential the Gloucester men have, coming away from the Brentford Community Stadium with two bonus points.

Tonight's visitor's will be hoping that a good performance against their West Country rivals will see them leapfrog Worcester Warriors, who are only one point ahead of the Gloucestershire side in the table.

Away from the club, Gloucester Rugby is represented in the Six Nations by four players, each named for their respective countries: Jonny May (England), Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Chris Harris (Scotland) and Stephen Varney (Italy).

HEAD COACH GEORGE SKIVINGTON

Joining Gloucester Rugby in the summer of 2020, George Skivington has settled in well to his role as Head Coach at the club. Having come in and implemented some significant changes, Skivington knows that the rebuilding process will take some time, but is confident that the foundations have been set for Gloucester Rugby to excel in the future.

Skivington was previously forwards coach at London Irish, and has also coached with the Samoan national team. His playing career included captaining England Saxons and London Irish, as well as time with Wasps and Leicester Tigers.

ONES TO WATCH...

SANTIAGO CARRERAS

Having scored two intercept tries last time out against Bristol, Santiago Carreras will be looking forward to getting back out onto the field against Bath.

With pace, skill and no fear, the winger is a real attacking threat and will chase everything with 100% commitment for the full 80-minutes. His athletic ability sees him jump high in the air and his skill under the high ball is a real asset to his game.

The 22-year-old Argentinian international has been a welcome addition to the Gloucester Rugby team.

WILLI HEINZ

Since returning from injury, Willi Heinz has added some control and stability to the Cherry and Whites’ game plan at scrum half. His fast delivery from the breakdown unlocks the back line and with his eyes always scanning, he is ready to take the best option whenever and wherever it may present itself.

Last time out, Heinz took a quick tap free kick and shipped the ball wide to Ollie Thorley who went over to score, showing how his international experience is a key asset to Gloucester Rugby’s success.

LEWIS LUDLOW

Gloucester Rugby’s captain puts his body on the line week in week out. Leading from the front, Ludlow usually has the highest tackle count and having come up through the Academy, he’ll know how much the West Country derby means to both clubs.

Gloucester through and through, Ludlow epitomises what it means to be a Gloucester Rugby player and playing at openside flanker, he is in the perfect position to get stuck in and involved in the game.

MATCH PREVIEW

Bath Rugby return to The Rec for Friday Night Lights as we welcome Gloucester Rugby for a west country derby clash in Round 10 of the Gallagher Premiership.

Kick-off 19:45 live on BT Sport.

Bath Rugby will be full of confidence heading into Friday’s derby following a 27-22 victory away to Sale Sharks in Round 9; a game which saw aggressive defence and patient attack provide a vital win at a sub-zero AJ Bell.

Gloucester come into this clash after a close encounter with fellow West Country rivals Bristol Bears at Kingsholm. A top versus bottom of the table fixture made for scintillating viewing, with the Cherry and Whites pushing the away team all the way before an Ioan Lloyd penalty on the 76-minutes gave the Bears the spoils.

Gloucester face their second West Country derby in as many weeks, with only one win out of nine in the Gallagher Premiership. George Skivington’s side will be looking to turn things around and secure their first victory of 2021 as they travel down the M4 to face an enthused Bath team.

READ PREVIEW IN FULL

PLAYER Q&A: JACQUES DU TOIT & TIAN SCHOEMAN

South African duo Jacques Du Toit and Tian Schoeman arrived in Bath in January and having completed their respective travel quarantines, are finally reunited at the Club. Still acclimatising to the UK winter – Tian confessing he hadn’t seen snow before arriving on English shores – the pair spoke about their relationship, which started on opposite sides of the field back in 2016.

Q: Can you talk a little bit around your friendship and how you two know each other?

JDT: We met just after I played Tian in our Currie Cup Final in 2016, so he was with the Bulls. I came to the Cheetahs and he joined up with us and from there on, you know, the hookers normally want to have a chat with the nine or the ten so that they pass the ball to them! So, I think we pretty much built up a relationship from there.

Tian: Yeah, I have to agree. The first time I met Jacques was 2016 in the Final, and unlucky for me I was on the wrong side at that game, they beat us…they won! Afterwards I went to Bordeaux for a year and then came back and joined the Cheetahs; that’s obviously where I met Jacques and have been really playing well with him. He’s a real good player and he brings a lot of flair to the forwards, so I really enjoyed it.

Q: Is it always awkward when you come from the runner up team of a Final to transfer to the winning team?

Tian: Yeah, luckily in 2019 we also won the Currie Cup together so that was good - but the whole 2019 Currie Cup build up until the Final, all the clips shown were of the 2016 Final. So every time the clips were shown of the Final of the Cheetahs winning the ball, I was on the Bulls side! There was a lot of teasing on the other side but luckily we did it – we did win one together as well.

Q: When did conversations start to happen about moving to Bath…did you two connect and say 'I’m also going' or was it a joint decision?

Tian: At the moment in South Africa everything is a little hush hush. You don’t want to play your hand too early. Obviously you want to, but you only talk about it once you have signed the contract. So I signed and then immediately after it got out. We had a little chat amongst the team - not the coaches - just as players, and then a little birdy told me about Jacques also signing with Bath. I asked him about it and he confirmed that he was more than thinking about signing so yeah, we were obviously very excited to have each other here.

JDT: Yeah I think from my side, I kept quiet about it - I didn’t really tell anyone that they were looking to sign me for the same reasons. I wanted to share it with everybody because we were very excited to come but as Tian said, I didn’t have the official paperwork yet so I didn’t want to over play my hand. Then on one afternoon, in a funny way, he confronted me about it and I couldn’t really hide anymore! From there on we were just happy to share it with each other.

Q: What attracted you to the City?

Tian: I’ve never been to Bath, except for the last three weeks. I spoke to a lot of guys in the team and all of them were like, ‘you should go for this, you should go for this, Bath is an awesome city, it’s a beautiful place, it’s awesome rugby, you should go for this’. Then my agent sent me through some of the Bath history, some of the Club’s history and what an awesome city it is and stuff like that. Then me and my wife were really excited for signing.

JDT: So for me, we played Cardiff in the Pro 14 one season and on an off day, some of the guys said lets take the train to Bath, see how it is. Like Tian said, it’s a beautiful city, so accessible, so attractive to look at. I’m familiar with the Premiership and how well the Club had been doing at that stage as well. All of us were just phoning up our wives that day saying listen, we need to come and play at Bath one day! I think from a young age I wanted to come and play Premiership because I think its one of the most professional leagues that’s currently played, the coaching and the facilities are all world class. Then when the opportunity came and it was Bath, I was just over the moon because I have been here, have seen it, have seen the rugby. The previous year they had played in the semi-finals. They did really well so that was just exciting to come and join a team that’s already on the way to winning trophies again.

Q: When your agents sent through the history of the Club and the City, was there anything about the culture or the ethos of the Club that really made you think, ‘yes, I want to play for Bath’?

JDT: I think from my side what attracted me to Bath is the fact that there weren’t really a lot of South Africans who have played here in the past. You’ve got your Francois Louw and Micheal Claassens who have been here but there wasn’t a huge group. I think that’s why I wanted to join, I didn’t want to go to a Club where there’s already a clique of South Africans; I wanted to experience the English culture, the English lads because I believe you can learn something from everyone.

Tian: I have to agree with Jacques. One of the main reasons why I signed is because there’s not a lot of South Africans here, so there's not a lot of South African culture. I know when I was in France, Montpellier is almost South African; some of the meetings are held in Afrikaans! I wanted to experience more of the English culture, more of the English type of play and that’s why I also really like signing with Bath. I know Butch James was here before and I also spoke to Michael Claassens who is a great friend of mine, and he just had good things to say.

Q: What were you expecting from the Premiership?

Tian: Pretty much what I got! I was expecting hard, tough, mental fight type of rugby, you know, big boys running big channels and that’s what I got. Like I said in one of my earlier interviews, I think the team that makes the most mistakes is the team that loses. The thing in the English Premiership is you get punished for your mistakes, so the team that makes the fewest mistakes ends up winning, because the other team can’t score points. Its more of a chess game than just a brutal sheer force thing, it's planned and actually, I really enjoyed it, it’s really good!

Q: I guess for you Jacques this is the first time you’ve left South Africa to ply your trade, so what did you expect?

JDT: I think what I’m expecting is competitive games every weekend. You know you get your top of the log playing bottom of the log but it’s still competitive. You don’t call the winner from in the week. It’s game by game, it’s home and away advantages and disadvantages but you know you can’t go into a game top against bottom saying top is going to win, because every game is so competitive. The crowds, when there are crowds eventually, make a massive difference and I think I’m looking forward to the challenge, knowing that you have to go out and fight for every game. Whereas in South Africa you’ve got your smaller clubs where you sort of expect a win - you still have to work for it but it's expected that you’re going to win this game whereas, in the Premiership, every game is a fight.

Q: Just talk to us a little bit about what you got up to in isolation. Did you spend time with training clips getting to grips with playing patterns and styles, learning line-out calls?

JDT: Throughout the 14-days I spoke to some of the coaches on Zoom, just getting familiar with what to expect on my first day of training. I wanted to be prepared, I didn't want to go in the first day not knowing anything, having to ask around, so I had a good chat with the coaches and they’ve all been so brilliant and so welcoming, especially the players as well. Further than that, we were just trying to keep our little one busy! We’ve got a two-year-old boy so luckily, him and my wife could come over with me, so we had to isolate together. That was just the biggest thing - trying to find new ways to burn energy with a toddler so that you can actually have some quiet time as well!

Tian: For me, I had 18-days in isolation. I had 12-days and then I got out for one day and then we had the false positives, so we all went back into isolation again. But before my first day also I spoke to a lot of the coaches, especially on the attacking coaching and kicking plans, just to familiarize myself with all the calls and kicking plays and patterns to make sure I know what the guys are talking about once I got there.

You’ve both brought your families over….

Tian: Yes my family only came over last week!

JDT: I think it’s going to be important just to socialize, especially from our wives' side. For us coming over you’ve got a whole new team and environment, and you get to introduce yourself to new people whereas they are just stuck at home, especially in lockdown. They don’t see or meet other people, so hopefully, as soon as the lockdown ends all the partners can get together and experience the team environment as well.

Q: We’re obviously in the week of Gloucester, a big derby game for Bath Rugby. Do you have that environment in South Africa, where you’ve got that close rivalry between two local teams?

Tian: In South Africa almost every team has its own derby. I know at the Cheetahs we use to play the Griquas Cheetahs; we were always winning but it was a massive game. You know it's two teams and they both just come hard. I know one of the biggest derbies in South Africa is the Bulls against the Western Province; it’s the north versus the south so it's one of the big derbies as well. So, I think we have experienced some derbies and we know it’s important for both teams, so it’s a really exciting but also hard-working week and an exciting game that’s ahead.

Q: Finally, what are you going to bring to Bath Rugby? What attributes will you bring to the team?

Tian: OK, I’ll go first! Ever since when I was at the Bulls, one of my things was I was an attacking fly-half, a playing fly-half, so my last option was kicking. Sometimes it bites you because it’s a little bit of a risky game, but it fitted well with the Cheetahs' game plan. So I’m going to bring an attacking flair, an attacking mindset. And obviously, I want to learn when to kick and to play a safer game, a strategic game.

JDT: I’ve never been that forward that just goes into rucks and just bashes it up. I think what I would like to try and bring is just a few options – if I need to run it then I can, if I need to swing the ball 15-metres to assist a try that would also be great, just to link up with the back-line player, spot spaces. I really want to express myself in the structured way of playing in the Prem, just to find ways to try and be different. I think in my previous games, I don’t conform to what a normal hooker does or even a back-row; I’m a bit of everything. I pride myself on communicating well and working on the pitch so I’ll try and measure myself on making a lot of actions in short periods of time, showing up for my team mates, showing up for the coaches.

INTRODUCING THE 2020/21 ACADEMY STAFF

Academy Manager Craig Lilley introduces Bath Rugby Academy Staff for the 2020/21 season

Academy Manager, Craig Lilley joined the Club ahead of the 2019/20 campaign to lead the strategic direction and operational management of its regional player pathway. Lilley’s appointment forms a critical strand of the Club’s strategy to realise its stated ambition of delivering a 50% homegrown squad by 2023. He is tasked with continuing to develop the regional pathway in order to optimise the identification and development of both players and coaches from within Bath Rugby’s designated Academy area. Lilley explains,

“A key theme to consistently deliver our vision, mission and values of producing home grown players is the development of our staff. We want to ensure that our players and staff are provided with a facilitated learning environment that inspires and maximises their development through high quality shared experiences and relationships.

“We are really happy with the staff we have recently recruited and look forward to developing this group moving forwards. It is exciting to see that a number of our team have been promoted from within this season and how as a club, we are committed to providing opportunity and resources to support coaches and staff within our region to develop and to fulfil their potential.”

Operations Manager, Kara Gonzalez joined Bath Rugby in 2016 having previously worked on a number of high-profile sports events including: London 2012 Olympic Games, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Gonzalez oversees the administration and logistics for the Academy which covers the Player Development Group (PDG) and Developing Player Programme (DPP) as well as fulfilling the role of Team Manager for the U18s and Premiership Rugby Shield. Gonzalez is also supporting the Lifestyle Management programme throughout the pathway. Using her breadth of experience across different sports, she works 1:1 with players to equip them, their parents and other key stakeholders with the skills and knowledge to support the real-life scenarios they may face on their rugby journey.

Club stalwart Nathan Catt continues his journey with the Blue, Black and White this season as he takes on the role of Academy Pathway Coach, with a focus on aiding development and providing our young men with high-quality experiences. After making 170 appearances over 12-years at the Club, Catt brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of not just set-piece and defence but also what it takes to be a successful Bath player. He will coach our U18 PDG squad whilst providing individualised coaching and mentoring to identified U18 players within the Bath Rugby Player Pathway, supporting optimal development.

Louis Messer joined Bath Rugby in September 2017 as Academy Pathway Coach after spending time coaching at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Messer supports the progression of players from the Bath Rugby Player Pathway. He is deployed as an U18 coach where his role is to produce an industry leading player pathway through both on and off field activities, establishing strategies to maximise effective progression of skills, knowledge and behaviours of our most high potential young players. Messer was a key cog in the partnership with the University of Bath, as the team finished third in the BUCS Super League – the University’s highest ever finish a couple of seasons ago.

Bath Academy Pathway Coach and Coach Development Manager, Matt Lishman first joined the Club as DPP Site Manager. Lishman took up his new full-time role with the Bath Rugby in the middle of the 2019/20 season. Coaching the Academy U16 and U15 PDG squads, Lishman also leads the DPP and supports our coaches in their development. After teaching PE and being an influential Head of Year at local secondary schools within the region, Lishman will look to use his vast skills and knowledge to help deliver an industry leading coach and player pathway for Bath Rugby.

Scott Mogridge joined last season from Leeds Carnegie. Mogridge heads up the analysis within the academy and is responsible for delivering objective feedback to coaches and players within the Player Pathway. He works closely with our coaches based on our Academy Game Model. Mogridge plays a crucial role in creating a learning environment, providing our people with the insights and knowledge to help maximise both player and staff development.

Chris Bakker was promoted to Senior Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach at the beginning of this season after preparing a number of our young men to graduate from our Junior Academy programme. Bakker now supports the delivery of strength and conditioning needs across the full length of the Academy Player Pathway. His main role is to deliver Strength and Conditioning to the Bath Rugby Senior Academy players through establishing a high-performance training programme and environment based around their individual needs and playing programmes. Bakker works effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team with coaches, medics and support staff, to provide an integrated approach to player development and performance enhancement. He also works with key stakeholders internally and externally to maximise player management and development needs of our identified high potential players.

Joining us at the start of the season from Newbridge College and Leinster Academy, Cathal Murtagh brings a wealth of knowledge from his experiences within the Irish system as both a player and coach. Murtagh has arrived as Academy Pathway Strength and Conditioning Coach. His main role involves working effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team with coaches, medics and support staff, to provide an integrated approach to player development and performance enhancement. Murtagh works with key stakeholders to maximise player management and development needs.

Rachel Williams was promoted to Senior Academy Physiotherapist at the beginning of this season after preparing a number of our young men to graduate from our Junior programme. Williams is tasked to drive the standards of medical provision and physiotherapy services across the different strands of the Academy pathway. Williams main role is to implement an inter-disciplinary approach to player management, working with fellow senior and academy staff to constantly review, improve and extend the evidence based medical provision and rehabilitation practices employed by the Academy. She develops relationships, ensuring high quality communication with key external stakeholders to maximise player management and delivery of identified return to play or rehabilitation protocols for players within different contexts.

George Gauntlett joined us at the start of the season as Academy Pathway Physiotherapist arriving from Sterling University. Gauntlett is tasked to ensure that we employ an interdisciplinary approach to player management working with fellow Academy staff to constantly review, improve and extend the evidence-based medical provision and rehabilitation practices employed by the Academy. He will also develop and enhance relationships with key stakeholders to optimise player management and program delivery across our Player Pathway

FAB CAMPAIGN DELIVERS OVER 270 PARCELS ACROSS BATH

Last month saw the Bath Rugby Foundation’s ‘FAB’ campaign kick-off, a programme aimed at supporting families most in need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative seeks to alleviate anxiety by providing food, activities, resources and consistent support, with the help of FairShare South West.

Now five weeks into the programme, we caught up with BRF Delivery Officer Dan Hine to discuss the impact of the service amongst the community.

Dan started off by explaining how the FAB campaign came to fruition, saying:

“Summer Breakout was launched in July last year and the idea was to bring families back out into the community after lockdown, providing food to take home and some sporting activities. We had 24 partners involved, all helping in different ways. Then we had a Christmas Breakout, which followed a similar format. Unfortunately we couldn’t continue to run the programme in the same way in January, because of lockdown.

“So, we created the ‘FAB’ campaign, meaning ‘Family Activity Boxes’. What we tried to do was take the magic of the Breakout programme, put it into boxes and send them out to families to enjoy at home.

“We didn’t want to just deliver another food parcel, we wanted to create something that families could use over the whole week to keep busy, particularly with younger kids at home. The boxes include a cooked meal, up to £50 of retail price food, a work sheet from the club, a craft activity, food activity and then on a Thursday, we go live on Facebook with a cook-along and a work-out with Maximus.”

As Dan noted, the take-up has been far more than anticipated, saying:

“We’ve delivered over 272 parcels since the third week in January, which is significantly more than we expected. The pandemic has had a huge impact on so many lives in the community and while we all obviously wish it wasn’t required, I’m pleased to see so many families coming forward and using the service.”

A range of circumstances have left some families in need of help, owing to the pandemic, and it’s with thanks to FairShare South West that the Bath Rugby Foundation have been able to help.

“Over 50% of the families are on free school meals, some families have been made redundant or are on furlough. We had one family who don’t have a vehicle, so they can’t get out to the shops. But thanks to FairShare South West, who are part of the Marcus Rashford campaign, we have been able to donate up to £40,000 worth of retail food through the Bath Rugby Foundation.

Speaking to BBC Points West, mum of six, Jaydean said:

“It’s so helpful. People don’t always realise that when kids are not in school, they just want to eat everything and the amount that adds up to sometimes is unbelievable.”

A typical week for a member of the Bath Rugby Foundation team includes meal preparation, packing boxes and then delivering across the City and surrounding areas, including Kenysham and Midsummer Norton and as Dan commented, it’s a real team effort.

“Becks Toan has been instrumental in organising the programme internally, while Sarah Hayes from Live Learn Cook – who has cooked those 81 meals a week! – has been amazing. Everyone has played their part to help those who need it most.”

“Of course, there’s always more to be done. We would benefit from more dry goods so if any supporters would like to donate for the parcels, that would be fantastic."

If you would like to donate any dry goods including canned produce, rice, pasta, pulses and beans to the FAB campaign, drop an email to contact@bathrugbyfoundation.com

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE FAB CAMPAIGN

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

BRSC - IT’S COLD UP NORTH….

When I was invoking the spirit of Scott of the Antarctic in my programme note for the Quins game a couple of weeks ago, it didn’t cross my mind that last Friday night the boys would be playing Sale in temperatures more like those at McMurdo Sound than Manchester!

The A J Bell can be a difficult place to go and get a result at the best of times, although we all enjoyed the performance and win up there at the business end of the 19/20 season! It’s fair to say that Sale have had a really good start to the 20/21 season under Alex Sanderson, securing some notable wins and flying high in the table. Our start hasn’t been quite what we would have wished, but those of us who were lucky enough to sit in on the virtual Q&A for Club Members on February 3 were given an insight into some of the reasons behind that. We were also given an encouraging glimpse into the style of play that the boys are trying to deliver, which is both positive and exciting.

Two of the stars of the Q&A were Josh Bayliss and Ruaridh McConnochie, both of whom spoke with passion and conviction, not only about gameplay but also about the sense of unity and togetherness which they all feel in these difficult times. That shone through so clearly during the match against Sale. There have been times watching the boys in the past when you worried that the wingers might have been susceptible to hypothermia, but not in this game. It was a thrilling, whole-team approach with everybody fully involved and committed. At times it looked like the sort of rugby that we get on dry pitches in late Spring rather than with freezing cold fingers with the mercury well below zero! Three excellent tries scored but defence is equally important and to be brutally honest, ours has looked a bit shaky at times. Not in this game. Remember that five and a half minutes of non-stop gameplay with us defending really aggressively? Real “bodies on the line” stuff which turns games. Well done boys – you really lifted our spirits!

On the BRSC front we’re busy checking the votes for the January Try of the Month competition. There weren’t any wins to celebrate, but there were plenty of great tries! If you haven’t voted for your favourite yet there’s still time, using the following link: but be quick, voting ends on Sunday 21st!

VOTE HERE

Bristol might be closer geographically, but if there’s a “derby game” that excites every BB&W supporter, it’s when Gloucester come to town. To be fair, both teams are playing a quality of rugby that belies our respective positions in the table and when you add on the tribal loyalties that this fixture always brings to the fore, then we have all the makings of a cracking game. We miss being at the Rec in person, but we really miss being there for this one! Relegation might (rightly in my view) have been suspended for this season but that won’t mean a thing in terms of the intensity of this game.

The boys know how much this one means to us and we need to let them know that the strong bonds that they feel as a team includes us as supporters too! You’ve got this boys – we’ll be with you every inch of the way!