Bath Rugby stories from The Chronicle...

Leading bookmaker Victor Chandler looks ahead to the weekend action...

Bath Rugby took a pounding from Leicester Tigers last week at The Rec and their task looks equally daunting on Sunday when they travel to second-placed Saracens.

Sarries are the most in-form side in the Aviva Premiership having picked up 25 points from a possible 30 in their last six matches.

The one glimmer of hope for Bath is an interesting stat from the two sides’ previous three meetings. On each occasion the away side has come out on top, so Bath at something around the 9/4 mark might look a tempting bet.

 

Victor Chandler: I expect Bath to Lose to Saracens
Tom Bradshaw: Meehan has Seen His Influence Ebb Away
Peter Short: A Big Thank You From Pedro and I
Players and Staff to Send Meehan Out on a High
Fans View: Meehan Leaving Means It's Back to Transition
Francois Louw Signs for Bath
Boys Battle it Out in Bradford fo Trip to Twickenham
Battling Butch Urged to Keep Calm for Saracens Trip
Friendly Rivalry as Front Row Coffee Mates Face Up
Competition: Win Tickets for Harlequins
Short Scores on United Return

It's official - Francois Louw signs for Bath Rugby

Springbok flanker Francois Louw has signed a deal to move to Bath Rugby for the 2011-12 season, the Chronicle can reveal.

The 25-year-old South African international will replace fellow Springbok and current Bath captain Luke Watson, who is returning to his homeland at the end of the season.

The Chronicle revealed in January that Bath were courting Louw. The final terms of the deal are now agreed and the blindside specialist has put pen to paper.

Read more...

Bendy facing ban!

Bath full back Nick Abendanon looks set to be punished for charging from the touchline to join in a mass brawl against Leicester last Saturday.
Rugby Football Union officials are studying a report from Bath into the incident when Abendanon dashed from the sidelines to join in the fight after seeing a ‘cheap shot’ from a Leicester opponent.

Read more...

Bath Rugby's next big signing - Francois Louw?

According to Nick Blofield the Springbok international is thought to be being lined up as a replacement for Bath's outgoing captain Luke Watson.

"He's in the mix," said Blofeld. "I imagine he'll be in the South Africa World Cup squad so it would probably be next season some time but we'd love to bring him too."

Francois Louw profile

Position: Flank
Physical: 1.90m, 112kg
Born: 15 June 1985, Cape Town
WP Caps: 65
WP Points: 65 (13t)
WP Debut: 2006 vs Golden Lions
Stormers Caps: 35
Stormers Points: 15 (3t)
Stormers Debut: 2008 vs Bulls
Test Caps: 7
Test Points: 10 (2t)
Test Debut: 2010 vs Wales

Louw formed part of an impressive loose trio with Schalk Burger and Duane Vermuelen during the 2010 Super 14 campaign and his excellent performances were rewarded with a well deserved call up to the national side for the mid year tour. Louw is a physical player with a high work rate who is not afraid to take on his opponents. A powerful ball carrier and strong in defence, Francois offers the Stormers an added dimension in attack.

Source: Stormers Rugby

Skip to 3 mins to see Louw score his try!

Bath Rugby want Dan Carter

Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld has not completely dismissed the idea of signing All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter.

"We would love to recruit Dan but cannot see that happening in the short term," Blofeld told BBC Radio Bristol.

Read more...

Steve Meehan's Bath Rugby years in pictures

Click here fir Smee's Bath Rugby years in pictures

Guscott not surprised that Meehan is leaving...

Bath legend Jeremy Guscott told BBC Radio Bristol that he was not surprised to hear that head coach Steve Meehan is leaving Bath at the end of the season.

 

Listen to interview now:

http://tiny.cc/3zs3x

Meehan to leave Bath Rugby

Bath Rugby have announced that Steve Meehan will be leaving the Club at the end of the season, by mutual agreement.

 

He has been instrumental in developing our style of play over the past few seasons and has taken us to three consecutive Premiership semi-finals and won the Challenge Cup in 2008. Commenting on the move, Nick Blofeld, Bath Rugby CEO said "We wish Steve all the best for his future after Bath Rugby and thank him for his contribution and commitment over the past few seasons. With significant changes at the Club and a new strategy and direction in place we have mutually agreed that it is a good point for Steve to seek a new challenge and we wish him luck wherever he goes."Steve Meehan said "Over the past five years we've developed our style of play, played some terrific rugby, won the respect of all the clubs in the Premiership and challenged some of the biggest teams in Europe. It's been a challenging yet enjoyable period but the timing is right for me to move on at the end of this season and I wish the team every success in years to come. However, the key part of this season is now upon us and before I leave I will be doing everything I can to ensure we are in the play offs and going for the title."

 

 

Source: www.bathrugby.com

Bath United put in a 6 try display!

A six try display from Bath United demonstrated a cohesive team effort, with Jacques Boussuge and Ross Batty scoring two tries a piece, and fly half Tom Heathcote providing 16 points. Final score 41-18.

Read more...

Short named in Bath United team to play Sarries tonight

Peter Short has been named in the Bath United side to face Saracens Storm tonight at the Rec, after coming back from a lengthy injury spell.
Short last appeared in a first team fixture against Saracens in the Aviva Premiership at the end of November. Joining him in the second row is Nick Morris, with Nathan Catt, Ross Batty and Mark Lilley completing the tight five. Read more...

McGeechan wants Bath to be more clinical

Performance director Sir Ian McGeechan says an honest appraisal of their shortcomings will help Bath turn their season around after recent losses.

Read more...

David Flatman: Ten days off but mum's home cooking replaces hangover for breakfast

A few years ago, the announcement of a few days off would see an immediate surge in excitement among the group. I remember being awarded some holiday on a Friday and, by Saturday evening, being on a flight to Miami with a mate. With very little responsibility to speak of, the trip was booked, the card was swiped and the cocktails were ordered.

Read more...

Ruck and Maul: Moody to be England captain at the World Cup – if he's fit

Lewis Moody has been given a clear message that he will be England's captain through to the World Cup – if the Bath flanker can get fit from the knee injury that prevented him playing any part in the new champions' Six Nations campaign.

Read more...

Gutted....!!!

Bath Rugby 6, Leicester Tigers 37

Bath Rugby slumped to a record Premiership loss at The Rec, suffering a five-tries-to-none drubbing at the hands of reigning champions Leicester.

Bath players and head coach alike confessed after the final whistle to being “embarrassed” by the 31-point losing margin – but the scoreline did not reveal the full story.

In the first half, Bath enjoyed three-quarters of possession as they began in a passionate, up-beat fashion.

They had a hatful of chances, but could never deliver a telling blow when the line was in sight.

As the game wore on Bath became ever more frantic, throwing increasingly speculative off-loads.

This Is Bath

Match Reaction

Bath's Nick Abendanon has apologised for re-entering the field of play to intervene in a punch-up during Saturday's Aviva Premiership defeat by Leicester Tigers at the Recreation Ground

ESPN
Cockerill hails half-backs

Bath Rugby V Tigers preview from The Independent

There are strong rumours at the Recreation Ground that Bruce Craig, the Bath owner, will make a serious attempt to lure the stellar All Black outside-half Dan Carter to the West Country following this autumn's World Cup – a move that would involve squaring up to the moneybags teams in the French Top 14 league, as well as convincing the rest of the Premiership that salary cap rules are not being flouted. Bath lose two of their expensive Springboks, the midfielder Butch James and the back-row forward Luke Watson, at season's end and therefore have some financial wriggle-room, but even so...

All this will be of interest to Leicester, who are with Bath in wishing the cap would go away. The champions were keen on the services of the Wallaby centre Adam Ashley-Cooper – who wouldn't be? – but were priced out of the market at an early stage. Now that Ashley-Cooper has decided to stay in Australia anyway, there is no point revisiting the issue. If they want a southern hemisphere top-ranker to bring a cutting edge to the back division, they will have to look elsewhere.

Interestingly, Bath have declined to pick the first-choice England centre Shontayne Hape in their starting line-up, even though Olly Barkley is out for the season. Sam Vesty, recruited from Leicester last spring, plays at No 12 with the promising Ben Williams outside him. Leicester, as is their wont, are not messing around. Most of their England brigade – Toby Flood, Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Tom Croft – will begin this afternoon's game. Louis Deacon would have joined them, but for injury.

Read other Prem previews...

Bath team to face Tigers

Bath Rugby will aim to continue their push for a play-off place this weekend when perennial rivals Leicester Tigers arrive at the Rec on Saturday, kick-off 4.30pm, live on ESPN.

 

 

Bath team to face Leicester Tigers

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Matt Banahan
13. Ben Williams
12. Sam Vesty
11. Tom Biggs
10. Butch James
9. Michael Claassens
1. David Flatman
2. Lee Mears
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper
5. Danny Grewcock
6. Ben Skirving
7. Luke Watson (c)
8. Simon Taylor

Replacements

16. Pieter Dixon
17. Nathan Catt
18. David Wilson
19. Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
20. Guy Mercer
21. Mark McMillan
22. Shontayne Hape
23. Jack Cuthbert

Meehan leaving Bath Rugby?

Rumours going around Twitter that Steve Meehan is on his way out of Bath and heading back to Stade!?

Vesty: relishing the chance to face The Tigers

Bath's Sam Vesty is relishing the prospect of taking on his former club Leicester at the Rec and says a good start is vital for the hosts.
Vesty expects the Tigers to draft in international players Ben Youngs, Toby Flood and Dan Cole, but believes they could be slow to get up to speed.

Read more...

Thursday's Chronicle - Bath to sign a fly half?

Former Springbok Derick Hougaard is among a handful of fly-halves being considered by Bath Rugby as a replacement for Butch James.Hougaard, whose deal with Saracens expires at the end of the season, has been recommended to Bath's senior management by current scrum-half and fellow South African Michael Claassens.Claassens' relationship with current Springbok James has been instrumental in developing Bath's brand of running rugby over the past four seasons.With James leaving at the end of the season, another South African could yet fill his boots.

Bath Make Approach for Hougaard
Competition: Bath Rugby Perfect Drop Challenge on Saturday
Skirving Re-signs for Bath
Fit Again Forwards Lift Bath for Tigers Clash
Abendanon Eyes World Cup Squad Place
Skirving's New Diet Gave Bath Food for Thought
Flatman Relishing Castrogiovanni Clash
FAN'S VIEW: What price the salary cap?

Ben Skirving committed to two more years at Bath Rugby

Ben Skirving has committed to two more years at Bath Rugby, and the Club are delighted to have secured the extension of his contract.

The 27 year old, multi-talented back-row has the rare achievement of having featured in every match-day squad this season, and was most recently awarded the Aviva Premiership Man of the Match in the hard fought victory over Exeter Chiefs

Read more:

http://tiny.cc/tb1lt

Is Dan Carter in talks with Bath Rugby?

All Black first five Dan Carter's confirmed he has a couple of overseas offers on the table but is no closer to deciding his rugby future post World Cup.

Rumours have been pinging round the forums and an article in this weeks Rugby Paper believe that Bruce Craig is in the process of trying to temp Dan Carter into life at The Rec. Money looks like an issue if Bruce can't find a loop hole or two in the salary Cap!!?



Read more...

Live Bath Rugby web chat tonight (Monday)

Live and interactive - take part in Bath Rugby's first ever live web chat tonight with Luke Watson and Andy Beattie. You choose the questions and we will put them to the players.

Tune in to the action tonight at 7pm at @bathrugby and you will see the link for the live web chat, click on the link, sit back and enjoy! To join in the fun you can tweet your questions to us while the action is rolling and we will put the best ones to the boys.

So get your thinking caps on and tune in at 7pm for this Bath Rugby exclusive, TONIGHT at 7pm.

St George's day t-shirt.... What do we think?

It must be a slow news day if I am posting this...!

What do you think? Looks cheap and nasty to me... think I will stick to my replica shirt for the big day!

Flatman: A new generation has arrived

My oh my, never mind the fact that they were soundly beaten in Dublin yesterday, what a long way this England team have come. The regard in which our national team are now held the world over has shifted seismically. There is, without question, a sense that the hard times have now been overcome, and now maybe, just maybe, we can chalk those days down to experience. Let's call them character-building.

Read more...

Don't make me laugh!!!

Ireland v England: Brian O'Driscoll aims to cut Matt Banahan down to size in Dublin Brian O’Driscoll is too experienced to have risen to the bait of predicting how he might expose any possible defensive frailties of his opposite number, Matt Banahan, but it is clear the Ireland captain is not daunted by facing the 6ft 7in Bath centre. Read more...

Olly Barkley #5 - rain rain go away

From the armchair coach to the paying spectator, there isn’t a category of rugby enthusiast whose experience of the oval game hasn’t been diluted by the English weather in one way or another. I’m talking about rain predominantly. Wet and grim. We curse it; we scowl at it, but for those of us who love our rugby, we persist with it for as long as it takes to hear the final whistle, before we leave spluttering and soaked through to our bone marrow.

Olly's full Blokey article

Banners - 'I almost played for Ireland'

Look closely in the seconds before England take the field at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night for their Grand Slam quest and you might just catch the sight of Matt Banahan kissing a tattoo of a four-leafed clover on his right forearm.

Read more...

Boots 'n' All - Early Bath for Kyle?

Stevo says the best way to remove the pressure on Kyle Eastmond is to send him to rugby union sooner rather than later.

The Boots 'n' All expert was speaking after news broke that the St Helens half-back has been suspended by the club pending an investigation into what they are calling "alleged serious misconduct".

 

Video clip:

http://tiny.cc/wqhww

The Chronicle - Maddock, Williams and Banners

Former fans' favourite Joe Maddock believes Bath Rugby have the knowledge and experience to push on and secure a place in the Aviva Premiership's top four this season.The 32-year-old enjoyed a sensational final season at The Rec, scoring 11 tries in 16 games, but despite Bath supporters wanting the New Zealand- born winger to stay, he opted to join Magners League side Treviso.Maddock experienced Bath's eventful recent history at the coal face and praises Steve Meehan and Brad Davis for transforming the side from mid to lower-table mediocrity to their more recent brand of running rugby.

Maddock Backs Bath Push for Play-off Place
Williams Wants to Fill Void Left by Injured Olly
Banahan Centre Stage at Grand Slam Decider
Guy Rues One that Got Away from Bath
Tom Bradshaw: Matt Carraro is Safe Pair of Hands
Bath Rugby Boost Profile with Ticket Office on Pulteney Bridge

 

Eastmond could of played his last game for St Helens!?

Kyle Eastmond could have played his last game for St Helens after the club suspended him for allegedly making an obscene gesture at his own fans. The scrum-half, who is moving to rugby union with Bath at the end of the season, is accused of making the sign at the end of Saints' home defeat by Harlequins last Friday.

Read more...

Matt Carraro signs for another two years!

Bath Rugby's Mr Consistent, Matt Carraro, has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the club.

​The 26-year-old Australian joined Bath two years ago as a late replacement for the 2009-10 season following the departure of then co-captain Alex Crockett.

And while he arrived at Bath as a little known name in the northern hemipshere, the former New South Wales Waratah quickly made an impact at The Rec.

Read more...

St Helens suspend Kyle Eastmond

St Helens have suspended scrum-half Kyle Eastmond pending an investigation into "serious misconduct".

A statement from the club said they will be making no further comment until the completion of the investigation.

The 21-year-old will switch codes at the end of the Super League season to join rugby union side Bath.

In February, Eastmond was forced to apologise to Saints fans for leaving the pitch immediately after the 25-18 defeat by Warrington.

Source: BBC

Banners to start at centre for England

England have resigned themselves to being without captain Mike Tindall for Saturday's Grand Slam decider against Ireland in Dublin, but they had the major consolation that Matt Banahan will be available to take his place at outside centre.

Read more...

Be the 16th man for Bath Rugby on tge 26th

Bath Rugby is urging our supporters to truly get behind the boys 'Roman Style' in what will be one of the biggest challenges of the season on Saturday 26th March as we take on current table toppers and age old rivals Leicester Tigers.

Read more...

SMASH hits: Banners

Matt Banahan is ready to keep making his mark for England by 'smashing' opponents, despite the risk of his brutal methods inflicting serious injury or incurring disciplinary sanctions.

Bath's imposing 18st wing-cum-centre will soon find out whether he is to be cited for his crunching clash with Kelly Brown, which left the Scotland No 8 motionless on the Twickenham turf on Sunday, before being taken off on a stretcher.

Read more...

The Bok need Butch!

‘I’ve never thought of [Dan] Carter as a fragile player,’ James says in explaining the psychology of big defending. ‘It’s more a case of making your presence felt. You want your opposite number to know you’re around. You want him to be constantly thinking about what you’ll do next.’

Read more...

Flatman: my role in Olly's rehab

When badly injured, it really helps to have all your friends around you. When I was last ruled out with a long-term knock, I was bowled over by the efforts that some of the other players went to just to give me some company and keep my spirits high. They would call round every day after training, always putting the kettle straight on and even bearing edible gifts for the oh-so-grateful invalid.

Read more...

How are you coping without Bath Rugby?

We are currently enduring a 21 day gap between Bath Rugby matches and for many of us this will be a period of hurt. It's one thing having no Bath rugby to watch during the summer, because that's out of season, but three weeks of abstinence during the season will surely create an allergic reaction for some. Does anyone have any cures for this potential malaise?

Read more...

Hape and Banners line up for England

Shontayne Hape and Matt Banahan once again line up for England in the RBS 6 Nations as they face Scotland in the Calcutta Cup on Sunday, March 13th, kick off 3pm at Twickenham.

Read more...

'Let's win the Premiership title for Olly' - Chronicle articles this week...

Bath hooker Pieter Dixon says the team want to win the Aviva Premiership title for stricken colleague Olly Barkley.

The England inside centre suffered a double leg fracture in Saturday’s 34-22 defeat to Gloucester, having previously broken the same leg before the 2009-10 season, and now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

After having his leg pinned, Barkley is currently undergoing treatment at the CircleBath Hospital in Peasedown and has been letting fans know of his progress via Twitter.

He tweeted: “Would just like to say again, thank you for an overwhelming amount of support from not only Bath and Glos but the whole Prem. Means a lot.

 

Pieter Dixon: "Let's win the Premiership title for Olly"

FAN'S VIEW: Old failings retutn to haunt Bath

English lessons give Cook the confidence to boss stars around

TOM BRADSHAW: Rivals' reaction was a credit to West rugby

New Bath signing will get no favours despite family connections

COMPETITION: Win tickets to see Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers

Injured Barkley tweets disapproval of NHS shortcomings

Bath-based trio in losing England Students side

 

Bath Rugby sign Carl Fearns and Charlie Beech.

Bath have announced the signing of promising forwards Carl Fearns and Charlie Beech.

Sale flanker Fearns has represented England at U16, U18 and U20s level and will move to the Recreation Ground on a two-year contract.

Beech, who has signed a three-year deal from Wasps, also appeared for England U20s and scored a try on only his second Premiership appearance.

 

Read more:

http://tiny.cc/gyq5f

Olly Barkley out for the rest of the season :(

Bath Rugby can confirm that Olly Barkley sadly suffered a fracture to his lower tibia and fibular in the game against Gloucester on Saturday, and will be out for the rest of the season.

 

He underwent an operation to correct it in Gloucester on Saturday evening following the incident and the Doctors were pleased with how this went. Director of Rugby, Sir Ian McGeechan, said "It is obviously very disappointing for Olly to suffer an injury of this nature, especially as he had been playing so well recently, and at such an important part of the season."It is doubly disappointing for Olly and the Club as he also missed much of last season with a bad leg injury. We will of course make sure he receives the best possible medical attention to get him back on the field as and when he is ready."The Club would like to thank all the numerous supporters and members of the wider rugby community for all their well wishes for Olly, and will endeavour to pass them all onto him

  

Source: Bath Rugby.

A message from Olly Barkley!

Here are Olly Barkleys messages from Twitter after his horrific injury yesterday.

'Thanks for everyones best wishes. It's going a long way while me and my mate morph(ine) battle against "the throb". Hope you're all intact!'

'As a result of a shortage in space I'm in the gastric intestinal ward. My alarm clock at 4am this morning was Ron's symphony le flatch :-0'

'For those that have asked I clean broke my tibia and fibula and had a rod with a few screws put through my tib to secure it. Fib will heal.'


Get well soon Olly!!!

A bad day at the office...

Bath Rugby suffered their first Premiership defeat of 2011, as they went down at Kingsholm to Gloucester Rugby. Final Score 34-22.

Gloucester were on the attack from the kick-off, driving hard through the midfield. After a small kicking battle, Gloucester won an attacking lineout and they sent the ball through the centres to Henry Trinder, who won a penalty when Bath were judged to be off their feet. Fly-half Nicky Robinson lined the kick up, and sent the ball straight through the middle of the posts to give the home side a 3-0 lead after six minutes.

Read more..

Get well soon Olly...

Olly Barkley's season is over after he suffered a suspected double fracture to the same leg he broke a year-and-a-half ago.

From the moment the Bath Rugby inside centre hit the ground in the 67th minute of today's clash with Gloucester and began beating the pitch with his hand, it was clear he was in distress.

Barkley appeared to suffer the break after his own team-mate, Butch James, fell onto his left leg awkwardly.

He recieved nitrous oxide - laughing gas - on the pitch before being stretchered off.

Read more...

Barkley's new Blokey article

So we’ve pranced around the gym in sleeveless vests that sports brands continue to supply us with (big fan) while trying not to get busted staring at the female athletes lifting more weight than we do. We’ve knocked ten bells of…errrr…we’ve knocked ten bells out of each other for the greater good of the breakdown and by this stage we’ve probably thrown more calories down our necks than the average bloke would in thirty six hours.

Read more...

Bath Rugby team to play Gloucester on Saturday

Matt Banahan returns for Bath Rugby tomorrow as they travel to Kingsholm to take on Gloucester Rugby in the West Country derby, kick-off 1.00pm live on ESPN.

 

BBC Radio Bristol will be commentating live from Kingsholm, and we will be tweeting live updates, so follow @bathrugby!

 

Bath Rugby team to face Gloucester Rugby

15. Jack Cuthbert
14. Matt Banahan
13. Ben Williams
12. Olly Barkley
11. Tom Biggs
10. Butch James
9. Michael Claassens
1. David Flatman
2. Lee Mears
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper
5. Danny Grewcock
6. Ben Skirving
7. Luke Watson (c)
8. Simon Taylor

 

Replacements

16. Pieter Dixon
17. David Barnes
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
20. Guy Mercer
21. Mark McMillan
22. Sam Vesty
23. Nick Scott

Gloucester V Bath preview

England have released Bath winger Matt Banahan and Gloucester prop Paul Doran-Jones for the Premiership West Country derby clash

Read more...

Audio interview - 'Bath should thrive at Glaws' says McGeechan

Bath performance director Sir Ian McGeechan tells BBC Somerset his players should thrive on their visit to Kingsholm to face Gloucester on Saturday.

Read more...

Bath's intensity pleases Grewcock

Second row Danny Grewcock says Bath's upturn in fortunes has been the result of more intensive training sessions.

Bath, who are fourth in the Premiership, travel to third-placed Gloucester on Saturday.

Read more...

ESPN free this weekend - Watch Bath V Gloucester

Watch ESPN & ESPN HD for Free* this weekend, plus ESPN America.
Catch Live and Exclusive action of the:

• Barclays Premier League
• Aviva Premiership Rugby
• Serie A
• World Rally Championship
• NHL
• NBA
• College Basketball

It’s not usually true when people idly state that ‘the best things in life are free’, but ESPN bucks the trend this weekend as it brings a barrel-load of live sport free-to-air for all to enjoy.
Star billing must surely go Saturday tea-time’s live Barclays Premier League game between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic, which the home side simply must take three points from.

Aside from this very generous offering ESPN also has Live and Exclusive action from Serie A, Aviva Premiership Rugby, NBA and World Rally Championship.

ESPN America is also free this weekend, where American Sports fans can catch the world-famous SportsCenter, an NHL double-header on Friday and NCAA College basketball action on Saturday and Sunday.

 

This Is Bath - Rec updates, Butch wants silverware and more articles...

Thousands of long-term supporters are to be consulted over the future of a piece of land that could be the key to allowing Bath Rugby to expand at The Rec.

The club's training facilities at Lambridge could be part of a complex land deal to square the expansion of Bath Rugby at its historic home with charity watchdogs.

In order for the Charity Commission to agree that the club should have a larger footprint at The Rec, which is subject to charitable law, there must be some sort of increase in other land available for public use and enjoyment.

 

Thousands Support Rec 'Talks'
Butch Wants to Bow Out in Style
Grewcock Banking on Barkley
Geech Looking to End Cherries' Home Run
Twickenham Win Calms Hape's Nerves
Competiion: Represent Bath at Glaws on Perfect Drop Challenge
Tom Bradshaw: Bath High on Confidence
Fans View: Flawed Process Endangered Bell's Unblemished Record
Kyle Eastmond Signing
Letter From McGarrigle
O/T Moon and Sixpence Closes

Eastmond move excites Biggs

Bath winger Tom Biggs can't wait to team up with new signing Kyle Eastmond, insisting the cross-code convert can be a huge success in union.

After Eastmond finally confirmed he would be swapping St Helens for Bath at the end of the current Super League season, some may be wondering what the latest convert has to offer rugby union.

Read more...

Eastmond could be the next Jason Robinson

Switching rugby codes alone invites pressure, but to be labelled the ‘new Jason Robinson’, as has been the case with Kyle Eastmond, will make the situation even more acute.

Scrum-half Eastmond, 21, has had to live with the comparisons since he emerged at St Helens and now, with his move to Bath confirmed, expectations will be more pronounced given Robinson’s exploits for club and country.

Read more...

McGeechan backing Eastmond

Bath director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan is convinced that Kyle Eastmond will make a smooth transition from league to union.

The 21-year-old St Helens scrum-half will become the latest high-profile code-switcher when he joins Bath in the autumn.

Read more...

Bath performance director Sir Ian McGeechan tells BBC Radio Bristol the club will be "patient" with rugby league signing Kyle Eastmond.

Listen to the interview now...

It's official - Bath confirm signing of rugby league star Kyle Eastmond

Rugby league star Kyle Eastmond will join Bath at the end of the 2011 Super League season in November.

The England and St Helens scrum-half, 21, has been linked with a cross-code switch to The Rec for months and will sign a contract that runs until June 2014.

Eastmond joined Saints at the age of 13 and broke into the first team in 2008. He has gone on to make 42 appearances for the club since, scoring a total of 401 points, and won the first of his four England caps in 2009.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan has previously stated that Eastmond would be utilised either on the wing or at full-back initially if he opted to join Bath ahead of the other clubs in the hunt for his signature.

 

Read more:

http://tiny.cc/rfivy

Johnson releases Banahan

Martin Johnson has mercifully little on his mind at the moment, what with England sitting pretty at the top of the Six Nations table and preparing at their leisure for a home game against the struggling Scots in 12 days. Red rose managers are never in a position to please everyone, though. Johnson's decision to release Matt Banahan back to Bath for the derby with Gloucester this weekend will not have them dancing in the streets around Kingsholm, especially as he is denying the Cherry and Whites the services of Paul Doran-Jones, their first-choice prop.

 

Read more:

http://tiny.cc/tbg26

This is Bath - Kyle Eastmond poised to sign for Bath Rugby

Rugby league star Kyle Eastmond will sign for Bath at the end of the 2011 Super League season, St Helens coach Royce Simmons has revealed.

The England scrum-half, 21, has been linked with a cross-code switch to The Rec for months, with Sale Sharks also believed to be in the hunt for his signature.

Bath head coach Steve Meehan indicated that, if Eastmond did sign for the club, he would be utilised either on the wing or at full-back initially.

"I think he will be going to Bath to play rugby union,” Simmons told BBC Radio Merseyside. “He spoke to the players [on Monday] and told them he had made a decision, a tough decision for him to make. He has decided to go to Bath.

 

Read more:

http://tiny.cc/z820r