Bath prepare for the new season

BATH PREPARE FOR THE 2021/22 TO KICK OFF

Bath Rugby have been busy preparing for the start of the new season, which kicks off later this month.

The players and staff have been hard at work at Farleigh House to prepare for an eagerly anticipated 2021/22 campaign in front of packed out stadiums.

This pre-season comes after a longer, well-deserved break for all at the club following last term’s threeweek turnaround.

Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper said: “The off-season has definitely given a decent amount of time to reflect on what happened last year; also, to switch off and spend time with the family, then reenergise ready to come back into obviously what is going to be a massive campaign.

“As ever through pre-season, there are layers you’re working on so there’s always a physical conditioning layer. There’s a rugby style how we want to play the game; that’s obviously being embedded from day one and then there’s the building of the team – you know the connections that getting everyone together outside of rugby and building a strong, coherent team on and off the field to go and take on one of the toughest challenges in World Rugby.”

Whilst Zach Mercer and Rhys Priestland are among the highest profile departees, the most prominent arrival has been flyhalf Danny Cipriani, who came to the club at the back end of last season and has played a full part in pre-season with his new team. Cipriani said, “There’s a huge amount of talent within the squad to work with. There are people with one-on-one talent who can make a lot of runs and beat people and we have a lot of ball handling forwards, which is a great sign too. It means we can get the ball through their hands and out to the backs quickly which I think will be key this season.”

Before the new campaign begins Bath have a couple of friendlies lined up against Munster and Cardiff. Bath travel up to Sale Sharks for the opening fixture of the new season on Saturday 18 September (ko5pm) whilst their first home game is the following Saturday (25 September) against Newcastle Falcons, kick off is at 3pm. A tricky first few games continues with Bristol Bears away on 1 October followed by Saracens returning to The Rec for the first time in two years on 17 October.

• bathrugby.com

Danny Cipriani

2021/2022 FIXTURES

For ticket information and to buy tickets go to the website. 10 Sept 19:15 A Cardiff Rugby Friendly 18 Sept 17:00 A Sale Sharks GP 25 Sept 15:00 H Newcastle Falcons GP 1 Oct 19:45 A Bristol Bears GP 17 Oct 15:00 H Saracens GP

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