Bath Rugby
Club Details
Recreation Ground
Bath
BA2 6PW
Stadium Capacity: 9,980 (7,800 seated)
Website: www.bathrugby.com
Founded: 1865
– 2007/8 Season Preview –
Last time around: The 2006/07 season will once again be remembered as disappointing for Bath Rugby. An eighth-place finish in the Guinness Premiership – one better than the previous year – left Steve Meehan’s side with a record of just eight wins in 22 outings. However, there were a few flickers of light as young full-back Nick Abendanon thrilled crowds with his powerful running. The pack was also in fine form under Steve Borthwick’s captaincy, with Lee Mears and Matt Stevens impressing later in the season.
This time? The only way is up, isn’t it? Well, easier said than done. The off-season signing of Springbok Butch James will no doubt benefit an exciting back-line. But can the West Country side maintain any sort of form during this term? It will be important to gain a solid start so as not to be dragged into the depths of the lower end of the table! Unfortunately, Meehan will be without Borthwick, Mears, Stevens and James during the World Cup, which could be costly. Once again Bath will be playing in the European Challenge Cup, and the favourable line-up of Albi, Auch and Overmach Parma should pose little problem.
Coach: All set for his first full season in charge at the Rec, Steve Meehan holds a strong reputation that may lead to his charges leaping up the table. He reached three consecutive French Championship finals during his post as assitant coach at Stade Francais so could this be the start of Bath’s return to the glory days?
Captain: Big lock Steve Borthwick, a fierce competitor who does not like losing. The England starter 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 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: The Guinness Premiership witnessed glimpses of fine raw talent towards the end of last season. With a viscous hand-off and pace to burn Nick Abendanon is certain to be deadly from full-back. After just missing Brian Ashton’s World Cup cut, the 21-year-old Johannesburg-born player could be the tournament’s star player.
Final 2007/8 league position prediction: 9th
skybet.com odds (04/9): 16-1 to finish first.
In: Michael Claassens (Free State Cheetahs), Butch James (Natal), Paulica Ion (Bucaresti), Martin Purdy (Wasps).
Out: David Bory (Brive), Chris Malone (Harlequins), Mike Mangeolles (Bristol), Matt Perry (Retired), Andy Williams (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Martyn Wood (Retired).
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.
