Bath Rugby announce strong new coaching set-up

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Bath, Premiership

Bath Rugby have announced the new coaches who will be joining the Club for the 2012/13 season.

Gary Gold, who most recently made a significant impact by returning Newcastle Falcons to winning ways, will join as Head Coach, taking charge of the rugby department. He will be bringing Toby Booth, Mike Ford, and Neal Hatley in alongside Brad Davis as his coaching team for next season. It is a very strong team with a wealth of both international and club rugby experience.

Gold arrives with international, Super 14 and Premiership experience, having spent four years as Assistant Coach with the Springboks, following stints as Head Coach with both Western Province and London Irish. He was part of the South Africa coaching team who won both the 2009 Tri-Nations and British and Irish Lions series of the same year.

Speaking about the move, Gary said: “I’m really looking forward to coming on board at Bath. It’s a very ambitious Club, with a great array of talent within the squad that I’m excited to be working with. There is a good culture developing here, and I’m keen to help further that with my own expertise and experience.”

Toby Booth also has international and club rugby experience, having been forwards coach for the England Saxons in the Churchill Cup, coached the England Students, Universities and Under 21’s, prior to becoming Head Coach at London Irish.

“Bath is a great Club, with clear goals and targets and know where they want to be. I’m really keen to start working with the squad.”

Toby said. “I have enjoyed all my coaching roles, but do feel now is the right time to move on to another Club and challenge.”

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Biggs and McMillan extend their stay at Bath Rugby

Posted on May 1, 2012 in Bath, English Rugby, Premiership

Bath Rugby is pleased to announce that Tom Biggs and Mark McMillan have both extended their contracts with the Club, seeing them stay until 2014 and 2013 respectively.

Biggs has been a livewire for Bath, being the Club’s top try scorer this season, and scooping both the “Best Back” and “Supporters’ Player of the Year” awards at the Annual Awards Dinner recently.

He said: “It was an easy decision to extend my contract. I feel my game has really developed at Bath and I’m enjoying the style of rugby we’re looking to play. There is a lot of ambition here and a lot more to come from us, and I’m really looking forward to being part of everything.”

McMillan’s season has been hampered by a knee injury, but his determination and commitment to the Club throughout saw him chosen by the Bath coaching team for the “Spirit of Rugby” award this season.

Mark commented: “I’m delighted to have re-signed with Bath. It’s a great Club to play for and I’m excited about being part of its future. There’s a really good mix of experience and youth in the squad now and it’s a great thing to be part of it all.”

First Team Coach, Brad Davis, added: “Both Tom and Mark are exactly the kind of player we want here and we’re really pleased they’re staying. They contribute a lot both on and off the field and around the Club, and we’re looking forward to seeing them contribute even more over the coming seasons.”

Dixon leaving Bath Rugby at end of season

Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Bath, English Rugby, Premiership

Pieter Dixon will also be leaving Bath Rugby at the end of the season, the Club confirmed today.

The Zimbabwean-born hooker joined Bath in 2005 following a long and successful career in South Africa with the Stormers, and he has gone on to spend seven seasons with the West Country club, amassing 155 appearances so far.

A mobile and consistent hooker, Pieter also knows his way to the try line, having scored six tries, including a very memorable one against Leicester in 2008 from 35 metres out.

Speaking about the decision, Pieter said: “It’s been a really hard decision to make to leave the club, but the time has come for me to return home. I’ve had a fantastic seven years at this Club, played with some great players, and worked with some very talented and knowledgeable people. I’d like to thank them all, as well as the Bath supporters who have made playing for the Club such a great experience.”

Brad Davis added: “We are sad to see Pieter go, but wish him all the best for the future. His contribution to Bath cannot be understated, and through his honesty, work ethic and desire to always improve he has represented all the values that we aspire to as individuals and as a Club. His experience and enthusiasm will be missed both on and off the field, and he has been a brilliant character and player to have in the squad for the past seven seasons.”

London Wasps team to play Bath

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 in English Rugby, London Wasps, Premiership

London Wasps head to Bath this weekend seeking a vital away Aviva Premiership win.

Wasps are looking to do the double over their West Country counterparts having beaten Bath 27-24 earlier this season in an exciting game at Adams Park.

Director of Rugby Dai Young has made three changes to his starting line-up, which includes seven players aged 21 or under.*

In the only change in the backs, Ryan Davis misses the chance to face his old side having been injured in last weekend’s game, but the fit-again centre Dom Waldouck comes straight back in to wear the number 12 shirt.

In the pack Young has moved young Joe Launchbury from back-row to second-row with Billy Vunipola earning the number 8 shirt and Sam Jones shifting to number six.

Richard Birkett captains the side once again.

On the bench Nic Berry returns to provide scrum-half cover and Tinus Du Plessis is also named.

Young said: “It’s obviously a massive game tomorrow and the boys are well aware of what’s at stake. We’ve got to be much more accurate than we have been and get off to a strong start. We’re up against a side full of quality so we’re in no doubt as to the challenge that we’re going to face.”

London Wasps team to play Bath, Saturday April 21, 14.15 KO
15. Jack Wallace
14. Christian Wade
13. Elliot Daly
12. Dominic Waldouck
11. Tom Varndell
10. Nick Robinson
9. Charlie Davies
1. Tim Payne
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Ben Broster
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Richard Birkett (c)
6. Sam Jones
7. Jonathan Poff
8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16. Vladislav Korshunov
17. Zac Taulafo
18. Simon McIntyre
19. Ross Filipo
20. Tinus DuPlessis
21. Nic Berry
22. Chris Mayor
23. Lee Robinson

*Players aged 21 or under: Christian Wade; Elliot Daly; Jack Wallace; Charlie Davies; Sam Jones; Joe Launchbury; Billy Vunipola

Dai Young Previews London Wasps v Bath

Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in English Rugby, London Wasps, Premiership

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young says a strong start is vital this weekend if his side are to go away from home and beat Bath in the penultimate round of the Aviva Premiership.

In recent games against Harlequins and Biarritz, Young has watched his side struggle early on only to burst into life late in the game, and he says his side simply cannot afford a slow start on Saturday.

“We haven’t been accurate enough in the first half of our last couple of games and we’ve allowed teams to build pressure on us. We have been finishing games strongly but that won’t be enough against a very good Bath side. Our first half an hour is hugely important and we’ve got to look to play the game in the right areas in that period.”

Young believes that Bath will be gunning for a win at The Rec.

“I have no doubt that Bath will be desperate to get a good win in their last home game of the season. They aren’t where they would like to be in the table and they are bound to have a few doubts about themselves at the moment so it is up to us to make sure that they are massively tested. They are a quality team with quality players so if they start well and get their confidence up it could be a very tough afternoon.”

Young saw his side stumble to league leaders Harlequins at the weekend and his young team faces a stern test of its ability to pick up a result under pressure with just four points separating Wasps and Newcastle at the bottom of the table.

“It is my job to try and take all of the external pressure away from the team and just make sure they are focused on playing to the best of their ability – that is all you can ask of the players. Everyone knows what is at stake and everyone is aware of the pressure in terms of the league position, but the players just need to focus on their roles in the team and deliver quality performances individually and collectively and hope it will be enough. We are still in a position where everything is still in our hands and you can’t ask for much more than that at this stage.”