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Worcester make Scott Baldwin their 6th signing for 2021/22

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Head coach Jonathan Thomas has explained why Worcester have recruited Scott Baldwin, the 34-cap Wales international, from Harlequins for next season’s Gallagher Premiership campaign. Set to turn 33 next July, the hooker switched to the league scene in England in 2019 after a lengthy stint at Ospreys.

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Last capped by his country in 2015, Baldwin now moves to Sixways and will become the club’s sixth new signing ahead of the 2021/22 season following recent deals to bring in the likes of Willi Heinz and Will Chudley. 

Asked at his weekly media briefing why he thinks Baldwin will fit the bill for Worcester next season, Thomas said: “He is a 34-cap international. He has been used to playing at the highest level of the game. He is experienced, he is a leader, he is still playing well, he has been in Prem team of the week for a couple of weeks running so he is clearly still on top of his game. 

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“He will add value. When we spoke last time about Heinz, Chudley, about (Chris) Ashton, there is a real need for us to bring in players of that sort of quality but also their on and off-field leadership is really important to our group. 

“What you are talking about at the moment is losing games to fine margins and what helps you win those games when there are fine margins is leaders. That is what Scott will bring.”

Baldwin added: “I’m very excited about joining Worcester. I’ve worked with Matt Sherratt at Ospreys, played with Jonathan Thomas and also been coached by Mark Jones for the Welsh national side. They are all quality coaches and good people who I know have big ambitions for Worcester. I’m really looking forward to joining a talented squad and being part of this exciting journey.”

Baldwin is the second player Warriors have signed from Harlequins in recent weeks following former England wing Chris Ashton who arrived in January on a contract until the end of the 2021/22 season.

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Bull Shark 33 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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