Blackadder on recruitment drive
WORCESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Bath Rugby Director of Rugby Todd Blackadder during the Aviva Premiership match between Worcester Warriors and Bath Rugby at Sixways Stadium on April 15, 2017 in Worcester, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder has revealed his intention to recruit six or seven players ahead of next season.
With Bath having qualified for European Champions Cup rugby next season, Blackadder believes they need to strengthen especially in the positions of tighthead prop, lock and inside centre.
“You can’t afford to have so many injuries in a key position like that," Blackadder told the Bath Chronicle.
“Tighthead and tighthead lock are probably the toughest positions on the field to play.
“They take so much out of you. We’ve got to make sure we’ve got enough quality there.
“It will be a case of four or five guys competing for a spot. There will be some tough choices.
“We’ve got the chassis, now we’re looking to increase the size of our squad.
“We’re looking for a big midfielder and six or seven players in total.
“We’re going to be in the Champions Cup, which will be a big step up physically, and the Premiership will be as tough as ever.
“Then we’ve got the Anglo-Welsh Cup and it looks like the A League could be extended.
“We haven’t got the confirmation of that yet, but it looks like we’ll have ten games in five weeks with the Premiership and A League at the start of the season.
“You need to be in a position where you can be resting players.
“Otherwise, you pick up one or two injuries and you’re looking at club rugby to bring someone in to cover you for an A League game.
“You don’t want players having to back up games all the time, because it’s a long enough season as it is.”