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Bath confirm the exit of Alex Gray, their American football gamble
Bath have confirmed that ex-NFL player Alex Gray left them in the off-season after making just six appearances during his one-season stint at the Gallagher Premiership club. It was November when Stuart Hooper signed the Atlanta Falcons tight-end, an ex-England 7s rugby player who previously featured for Yorkshire Carnegie, London Irish and Newcastle.
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The 30-year-old had called time on his rugby career to see could he make it as an American footballer in the NFL but after three years in the Falcons practice squad, he returned to England to give rugby a second go.
He went on to debut against Sale in February before making four other Premiership appearances, as well as featuring against London Irish in the Challenge Cup. However, his short-term deal was not renewed.
A Bath statement read: “With the likes of England internationals Anthony Watson, Ruaridh McConnochie, Joe Cokanasiga and Semesa Rokoduguni able to play on the wing, alongside 2020/21 breakthrough player of the year Will Muir and homegrown trio Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Gabe Goss and Darren Atkins, game time would have been limited for Gray during the forthcoming season.
“Everyone at Bath wishes Alex the very best of luck in his next challenge. With regards to incomings at the Rec, Bath have the capacity to bring additional players into the squad for the 2021/22 season and the club is working hard to do so.”
TRANSFER: JJ is staying but Bath might be about to lose another Test centre. https://t.co/1NdIhDgZ6n
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 3, 2021
Boss Hooper added: “Alex was fantastic to have at the club and he deserved the appearances he made at the back-end of the season. It was good to have him around, but with the squad strong in that area, there wasn’t a position for him going into this season. We wish him all the best in his next challenge.”
It was 2016 when Gray put his rugby career on hold to chase his NFL dream. After progressing through the NFL’s international player pathway programme in Florida, he was snapped up by Atlanta and had been part of their practice squad. Standing at 6ft 4ins and weighing 113kgs when he joined, Bath were hoping Gray would bring “an exciting point of difference after being carefully selected through a rigorous recruitment process”.
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Episode three of Bath Rugby Unseen focuses on defence ?
Sam Underhill explains why effort is just as important as skill ?#WeAreBath | Powered by @Dyson
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) September 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
50 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
50 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
50 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
50 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
50 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
50 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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