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Bates happy with dual role

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Welcome break: Bates has been involved in a tough season at the Falcons

Steve Bates insists he can juggle the rebuilding job required at Newcastle this summer with his three-week stint as coach of the England Saxons.

Bates is in the process of finalising his future at Newcastle after replacing the departed John Fletcher as the Falcons' Acting Director of Rugby during a turbulent season at Kingston Park.

The manner of Fletcher's departure prompted an angry response from Newcastle's England international Toby Flood who, like Mathew Tait, has decided to leave the club in the summer.

Newcastle finished the season eleventh in the Guinness Premiership, one place above relegated Leeds, and need a strong summer recruitment programme to avoid the drop next year.

Bates hopes much of that will be at least be under way before he takes the Saxons to the Churchill Cup at the beginning of June.

"I think this is a great opportunity for me to learn about what other people are doing, what other players are like and what other coaches are up to. It is a valuable experience," said Bates.

"Realistically, most clubs are dormant in June and hopefully we will have recruited some players before then and I am looking forward to the Churchill Cup.

"It gives us a great opportunity to look at how our players (at Newcastle) compare with other players."

England will head out to North America as defending champions after their victory over the New Zealand Maori in the final at Twickenham.

And Bates will be in charge of a strong squad, which includes the likes of Leicester winger Tom Varndell, Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb and London Irish scrum-half Paul Hodgson, who were unfortunate to miss out on senior selection.

Bates will be impressing on his squad how top-quality performances at the Churchill Cup will help press their claims for inclusion in England's elite player squad for next season.

"You have to get yourself into the Saxons squad if you want to progress and that pathway has been really well established now," said Bates.

"The second 32 is actually very important because players can move up and down that ladder."