Bath Rugby
Club Details
Recreation Ground
Bath
BA2 6PW
Stadium Capacity: 9,980 (7,800 seated)
Website: www.bathrugby.com
Founded: 1865
- 2006/7 Season Preview -
Last time around: The 2005/06 season will go down in annals of Bath Rugby as a duff year. A ninth-place finish in the Guinness Premiership (nine wins in 22 outings) is well below even the most modest expectations that the rugby world holds of this famous old club. Europe proved to be more fertile, but a Heineken Cup semi-final encounter with Biarritz in San Sebastian proved to be a bridge too far for the West Country side. The rotten cherry on the top of this unpalatable dish came in the shape of the departure of head coach John Connolly, successor Brian Ashton and practically all the supporting lieutenants.
This time? The only way is up, isn't it? Well, easier said than done. Bath's current coaching set-up has yet to be decided and they start the season under 'acting head coach' Steve Meehan - hardly a wight-for-weight replacement for the man who name commands Australia. Still, some canny off-season signings should help the side's cause. Failure to qualify for the Heineken Cup might be a blessing in disguise - nothing builds confidence like a a string of European Challenge Cup fixtures. But Connacht, Montpellier (France), and NEC Harlequins will fancy their chances against the beleaguered men in blue and black.
Coach: John Connolly's exit leaves a gaping hole on the Bath touchline. Despite a shaky end to his tenure, he was so impressive in his first year in charge in cobbling together Bath's pack that Brian Ashton had the perfect base upon which to get his backs going. Steve Meehan's previous post was as backs coach at Stade Français and his input will be invaluable to a side that has long been regarded as 'front heavy'. There's no doubt that the new man has a lot to learn, but if he can offer guidance to the likes of Agustin Pichot, Juan Hernandez and Christophe Dominici he can't be all that bad.
Captain: Big lock Steve Borthwick, 26, was 'spared' the morale-draining experience that was the 2005 Lions tour and missed England's disastrous 2006 tour to Australia with a knee injury, so he should be fighting fit and mentally sound for the forthcoming season. He is a fierce competitor who does not like losing. Borthwick has long been renowned for his superb set-piece skills but he also appears all over the pitch as a ball-carrier, making valuable yards and steering the ship. His club and country partnership with Danny Grewcock is one of the finest locking combinations in operation and will be inextricably linked to Bath's fortunes.
One to watch: Equally at home at fly-half or centre, Shaun Berne gets the job done. The industrious playmaker is solid in his channel and is good at getting his backline moving. The Australia 'A' star returns to Bath after five years playing for the Waratahs. The former Rec-favourite left Bath at the end of the 2000/1 season having made 44 appearances for the club and scoring 128 points (16 tries, 13 conversions, 6 penalties and 1 drop-goal).
Final 2006/7 league position prediction: 10th
totalbet.com odds (29/8): 25-1 to finish first
In: Shaun Berne (NSW Waratahs, Australia), Chev Walker (Leeds Rhinos RL), Matt Banahan (London Irish), Pietro Travagli (Rugby Viadana, Italy).
Out: Taufa'ao Filise (Cardiff Blues, Wales), James Hudson (London Irish), Lee Best (Worcester Warriors), Billy Fulton (released), Andy Dunne (NEC Harlequins), Salesi Finau (Bourgoin, France), Mike Baxter (Pertemps Bees).
Colours: Blue, black, and white
Tickets: £9-34
Travel connections: Bath is connected to London (and Heathrow) by both main rail line and road. The journey is anything between 90 minutes and three hours, depending on time of day. Nearby Bristol also has an airport, and some very good internal flight prices are available to further areas of Britain.
