Why Louw turned down WP offer
European packs will have to deal with Springbok openside flank Francois Louw for a few more years to come.
This comes after he opted to turn down an offer to return to South Africa with Western Province to re-sign with Bath.
Despite a big Rugby Championship with the Boks, Louw has decided to see out his club career in England with the former European Cup and Challenge Cup winners.
His commitment to the club was exemplified when he played in the opening round of this season's Challenge Cup games a week after facing the All Blacks.
"Bath is my club and having re-signed means a lot to me," Louw explained to the Rugby Paper.
"During the off-season I was deciding where to go and what to do with my career.
"After two fantastic years at Bath I was coming into my third season, and I was making the decision whether to go back home or not.
"I'm very excited to have signed on here and it's what I'd always wanted.
"Bath's really grown on me, not just the city and the fans but the team.
"It's a great team to play for and I really think it's going places.
"It's sometimes a difficult thing to make that mental transition from country to club – a new team, a new set of moves, a new set of team ethics, a new everything really.
"But it is important to make that adjustment and coming to a side like Bath makes it quite easy for me. We are a tight group and a very open group.
"The guys have been very accepting with a few foreigners coming back from the Rugby Championship.
"They make you feel very welcome, and everyone – the coaches and the players – get you straight back into the game. I'm just taking it from where I left off last time."
Louw's return from the Rugby Championship certainly provided Bath with a boost ahead of the kick-off in Pool Two of the Challenge Cup.
He helped the English Premiership outfit to beat Bordeaux-Begles 15-6 in France and after two rounds they are unbeaten at the top of their Pool.
