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Anthony Watson makes decision on future

By Online Editors
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

After months of speculation Anthony Watson has finally made a decision on his future. The England international’s contact with Bath was due to run out at the end of the season. Watson was one of the stars during the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and was reportedly being pursued by four French clubs.

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The 24-year-old has been a key figure for England with an impressive 15 tries in his 33 appearances. A move abroad would have put an end to his international future, with only domestic players considered.

Watson is in his fifth season with Bath and is closing in on 100 appearances and it’s now been confirmed he and three other senior players have committed the futures to Bath to “long-term” deals

Director of Rugby, Todd Blackadder, said: “Ant is one of those rare players who is incredibly talented yet so hungry to learn and get better every day. His performances for Bath have earned him games at the very highest level with England and the Lions, he is a role model to our players with his work ethic and commitment to the club. He’s currently out with an Achilles injury but that has not stopped him working tirelessly with our medical team to ensure he gets back to the field performing at the levels he expects of himself asap. We’re really looking forward to seeing him back in the Blue, Black and White in the New Year.”

Watson said: “I’m obviously happy to have re-signed with the club. We have a good bunch of lads and world class players who all desperately want to achieve something here.

“The coaches past and present have been key to me getting to where I am today and because of the opportunities they’ve given me, I feel a huge sense of loyalty to the club.

“Lastly a big thanks to the medical team who have worked so hard to help me in my rehab and get me back to full fitness.”

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Fresh from agreeing deals with Taulupe Faletau, Semesa Rokoduguni, Zach Mercer and Beno Obano, Bath have agreed deals with three other key senior players too – Charlie Ewels, Nathan Catt and Elliott Stooke.

Blackadder said: “We have not shied away from the fact that we want to play smart attacking rugby, whilst also developing our own unique style of play. We know we are not there yet.

“To re-sign such an exciting group of players is testament to their belief in our direction of travel and the environment we have created here at Bath. Anthony Watson, Charlie Ewels, Nathan Catt and Elliott Stooke all have fundamental roles to play in our future and we are delighted to have ensured they are a part of it.

“Catty and Ewelsy are Bath men through and through and have played a crucial role both on and off the field throughout my time here. Both have deep-rooted knowledge of our game and our club, which has been invaluable to the squad and ensuring or culture remains strong.

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“Stookie has developed his game considerably over the last few seasons. I’m incredibly proud to see him involved in the England set up, and I know the prospect of international rugby will drive his performances for our Club even further.

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Charlie Ewels, who came off the bench against the All Blacks last Saturday said: “We’re heading in an exciting direction as a Club and I’m really looking forward to being part of that journey.

“I’ve come through the Academy and it’s always been my focus to win trophies at this Club. I have no doubt that with the coaches and players we have here combined with the long-term vision, we can do just that.”

Stooke another within the England camp also spoke about his new Bath deal and said: “I feel like this place is home to me – the Club is definitely going in the right direction and we’re in a good place. There’s a good core of people here and they are the right boys to take Bath Rugby forward.

“I’ve had a sniff of the England setup, and this is without doubt the right place to progress myself as an international player. I’m really happy that I’m staying, and I’m looking forward to creating more memories with the lads and winning silverware in the future.”

Meanwhile Nathan Catt added: “I started my career with Bath over a decade ago, and it’s the place I want to finish as a player. I have a real attachment with the Club, supporters and the city as a whole, and I couldn’t be happier to continue my rugby journey here.”

Watch: Anthony Watson talks to RugbyPass

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Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

33 Go to comments
A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

33 Go to comments
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