Bath Rugby

Club Details

Recreation Ground
Bath
BA2 6PW
 
Stadium Capacity: 9,980 (7,800 seated)
Website: www.bathrugby.com
Founded: 1865

- 2009/10 season preview -

Last time around: Having made both Guinness Premiership semi-finals and the Heineken Cup quarter-finals (losing out to Leicester on both occasions), what was a relatively successful year on the field for Bath turned into a complete nightmare off it. Bath lost five players to drug-related issues last season, including England international Matt Stevens and former Australia lock Justin Harrison for taking cocaine. Andrew Higgins was suspended along with former co-captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett after all three refused to take drug tests. While the other two appeal, Higgins has retired from rugby.

This time around: The hangover from Bath's end-of-season celebration in London still lingers at the dawn of the new campaign as Lipman and Crockett contest their nine-month bans. After all the controversy surrounding the club in 2009 they will be pleased once the season is underway and concentrate on playing. If they can consistently maintain their form as they did last term, then there's no reason why another top end finish is beyond them.

Coach: Since joining Bath in 2006, Australian Steve Meehan - having coached in Australia and France - got his adopted team playing some attractive rugby which led to a European Challenge Cup trophy. The end of last season must have been a turbulent time off the field for Meehan and on a practical level, the loss of five key players plus the prolonged injury absence of Butch James left him with a major recruitment headache. But he has made a number of intelligent signings.

Captain: Meehan had no choice but to appoint a new captain following the departures of Crockett and Lipman from the club but he had decided even before the end of last season to offer the role to South African Michael Claassens. Perhaps understandably, given the task at hand, the former Bok number nine took his time before indicating to Meehan he would accept the job. But now he has it, Claassens has vowed to set the right example and lead Bath out of the shadows of last season and into a bright new future.

One to watch: There are quite a few to choose from! Olly Barkley's return from Gloucester will strengthen the midfield and the Fijian Nicky Little has been signed as short-term cover for the injured James. Up front, Matt Stevens' replacement David Wilson broke into the England reckoning last season while Ben Skirving and South African import Luke Watson will strengthen their back row options.

In: Luke Watson (Western Province), Olly Barkley (Gloucester), Matt Carraro (Waratahs), David Wilson (Newcastle), Ben Skirving (Saracens), Julian Salvi (Brumbies), Nicky Little (Padova), Chris Cracknell (Exeter).

Out: Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett (both resigned), Andrew Higgins, Justin Harrison (both retired), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (Gloucester), James Scaysbrook (Exeter), Paulica Ion (London Irish), Laurence Ovens (Newcastle), Shaun Berne (Leinster), Chris Goodman (Bedford), Robbie Kydd (Udine RFC).

Squad: Nick Abendanon, Matt Banahan, Olly Barkley, David Barnes, Mike Baxter, Andy Beattie, Duncan Bell, Scott Bemand, Daniel Browne, Matt Carraro, Nathan Catt, Tom Cheeseman, Michael Claassens, Chris Cracknell, Rhys Crane, Jack Cuthbert, Ryan Davis, Pieter Dixon, Jonny Fa'amatuainu, David Flatman, Danny Grewcock, Shontayne Hape, Rob Hawkins, Stuart Hooper, Butch James, Aaron Jarvis, Nicky Little, Joe Maddock, Lee Mears, Josh Ovens, Julian Salvi, Peter Short, Ben Skirving, Michael Stephenson, Luke Watson, David Wilson.