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The Bath verdict on the France-bound Jonathan Joseph
Bath have finally acknowledged the departure of Jonathan Joseph 15 days after the ex-England midfielder was confirmed as a signing for the 2023/24 season by Biarritz, the French Pro D2 club. The 32-year-old, who played for his country off the bench in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final versus the Springboks, opted to try his luck overseas following a decade at The Rec.
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Joseph’s signing on a two-year deal was announced on July 4, the same day that Biarritz also unveiled controversial prop Mohamed Haouas following the collapse of his new contract at Clermont and his axing from the France squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup after a court case in Montpellier.
Biarritz have since announced the arrivals of Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb, ex-Wasps winger Zach Kibirige and former Harlequins second row Charlie Matthews.
A Bath statement read: “Bath can officially confirm that after 10 seasons Jonathan Joseph has left the club to pursue a playing opportunity with Biarritz Olympique. Having spent his early professional years with London Irish, Joseph joined Bath in 2013 and made his debut against Newcastle Falcons early in the season.
“One of the club’s longest-standing players, Joseph has accumulated 176 appearances, scoring 41 tries along the way. Earning international honours with England, Joseph has 54 caps and he embarked on the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2017.
A legend in Blue, Black and White!
? 176 appearances for Bath Rugby
?54 caps for @EnglandRugby
? 1 British & Irish Lions tourThank you for everything, @Jonathanjoseph0 ? pic.twitter.com/1lrkgXOSGX
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) July 19, 2023
“After impressing at both club and international levels, Joseph was named the RPA players’ player of the year and England player of the year in 2015. Joseph started all five games of England’s 2016 Six Nations campaign, playing a key cog in their first Grand Slam win in over a decade.
“The international featured in the last two Rugby World Cup tournaments, earning six caps in 2019. He featured for England in their quarter-final and semi-final wins against Australia and New Zealand and was a runner-up in the final to South Africa.”
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Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “JJ has made an immense contribution to Bath. He has achieved a huge amount in both his club career and on a Test match level and will be considered a Bath Rugby legend for years to come.”
Joseph added: “My time at Bath has come to an end as I step away from the club to begin a new chapter of my professional career. I have many fond memories. Playing at The Rec in front of a sold-out crowd is not something every rugby player can say they have done.
“To have done it over and over again is just a testament to the Bath supporters’ loyalty as well as my coaches’ belief in me. I feel it is the right time for me in my career to pursue new opportunities and see what else is out there for me.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments