Bath have completed the loan signing of prop forward Alan Cotter, who joins the Recreation Ground outfit on a month-long contract from Munster.
The 26-year-old front-rower arrives due to the absence of David Wilson and Paul James, who are on respective duty with England and Wales.
Meanwhile on the injury front, international hooker Rob Webber has revealed he will be back playing in February 2013 following shoulder surgery.
"I'm hoping to be back playing in February time," the 26-year-old told BBC Radio Bristol.
"Hopefully I'll be involved with the boys on the training field from mid-January.
"At the moment it's a fairly lonely existence in the rehab room but it's progressing well after having the second operation.
"It's been a slow process. I just can't wait to get out there on the Rec and start chipping in."
Comments
liam2me says...
I love the way Irish clubs are using the premiership as a development league for the Rabo as well as a retirement home for those not good enough anymore
Posted 08:45 20th November 2012
Cookiemunste says...
I completely get that mate. I myself think he was a wrong signing but not because of ability. Best of luck anyway. To the brave and faithful nothing is impossible!
Posted 08:20 16th November 2012
APV1 says...
@ Cookiemunste - thanks for the insight. I'm a little disappointed that you suggest he, "...hopefully can develop him as a player and get some good return out of him." We have plenty of upcoming talent, as sirtidychris mentioned. What we really need is a gnarly old-school prop, with his face on sideways, who can teach the youngsters the dark arts of the front row.
We've got him for a month. That's not really time enough to integrate him in the team and develop him as a player. Whilst I appreciate that Bath are looking for "back-fill" for injuries and absences, they really should be established players. Maybe they should have looked down a league, rather than across...
Posted 17:40 15th November 2012
Cookiemunste says...
Alan Cotter is a fellow Young Munsters club man. He has been breaking through to munster academy. He was starting to feature in pro 12 matches and in my estimates would break into proper contention next season.
Alan 'Barney' Cotter is a very very powerful scrummager and was regarded as the best prop in the AIL league a season ago. He is a very fit, strong individual who takes his rugby very seriously.
A good signing for bath who hopefully can develop him as a player and get some good return out of him. Best of luck to Barney and Bath.
Posted 11:40 15th November 2012
melkdave says...
echo you on Webber APV1,and yeah hope Cotter can do the biz for Bath,during the international window .They looked like they just got the FR sorted ,only to lose 2 for the internationals .
Posted 18:11 14th November 2012
sirtidychris says...
Unneccessary signing in my opinion..
we have Catt, Beech,Perenise, KPN and Wilson and James when back from international duty...we should be giving these young guys first team experience they have soo much potential, Catt and KPN could easily be england 1st teamers in the future but bath hate blooding youngsters, i think we are literally the worst team in the AP for developing players. Heathcote, mercer, skuse, williams, ovens etc were all blooded by SIM which was the one great thing he did for the club before that i think mears and barkley were the only academy guys that made it in about 10 years. Sarries play mako, harlequins marler, corbs, cole etc etc have all bee brought through by there clubs but bath prefer to by in players and dont understand that greatness in the long run comes from the academy.
Posted 18:01 14th November 2012
APV1 says...
Good news about Webber. I don't know much about Cotter, but let's hope he's a good addition to our struggling FR.
Posted 11:17 14th November 2012