Toby Booth goes back to Bath to sign ex-Wales U20s lock Rhys Davies
Bath have confirmed that second row Rhys Davies is leaving to join the Ospreys ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Davies has spent five seasons at the Rec since his arrival in the academy as a 16-year-old, going on to become one of many players to come through the system and make a senior debut.
His huge progress in the past twelve months has seen him go on to play in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup this season after making his debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup against Exeter in September 2019.
Bath boss Stuart Hooper said: “Rhys is a young man that we have invested a huge amount of time and energy into from the early stages of his young career through to the present season, where we have seen him really emerge and display some impressive performances.
“The process we went through with him to consider his options was thorough, and we know it was a difficult decision for him to make.
“It’s rewarding and satisfying in a way to see one of our young men develop the way he has and to see him benefit from the programme that is available here to our best young players.
“While we are disappointed he is leaving, we are confident that we can continue to develop young men through our pathway and have an exciting group of players to continue to work with moving forwards. We will wish Rhys all the best when he does leave us in the summer.”
The switch to Swansea will see Davies link up with incoming Ospreys Toby Booth, the ex-Bath staff member who is attached to Harlequins this term.
Davies said: “I have grown up here both on and off the field, and I am really grateful for the way Bath have helped me as a player and a person.
“I have been given every opportunity to develop and have been lucky to work with some great people who have got me fit, helped me overcome injuries and begin to understand what it takes to perform in the Premiership.
“I wasn’t expecting to get this offer from the Ospreys and had not considered leaving Bath.? It’s the toughest decision I have ever had to make and I really want to focus on finishing this season as strongly as possible and giving back to the club in every way I can.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe 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
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
11 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.
54 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 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.
18 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.
54 Go to comments