David Flatman retires

Bath and former England prop David Flatman has retired due to injury. The 32-year-old, who has eight England caps, has had a career blighted by injuries and the latest has forced him to call it a day. Flatman joined Bath in 2003 and went on to make over 160 appearances for the club. He will remain at the Rec, taking up a backroom role.

"It's been a difficult decision to make, but you have to listen to medical experts. Naturally, it's tough coming to terms with this, but the club have been fantastic in their support."

BBC

Real shame, at just 32 no where near past his sell by date for a front row forward.

A real shame. He seemed to be really struggling to make his bind in the previous season. This was coming. Hopefully he'll get a more permanent job at sky as an analysis 'on the front line'. He's better than most of them that do it. Good luck to the guy.

Even though he's a player I've always quite liked him. It is a shame that injury has blighted his career especially his shoulder problems which clearly effected his scrummaging ability. Without these he would have gone on to win more caps. I agree with Hammer that he is better than most when it comes to Sky, so he'd be a welcome addition (hopefully at the expense of Dewi Morris!). Good luck to him and the Jeff will be a quieter place without him!

Thanks for all the memories Flats

Unfortunate but as said above it was coming. Hopefully he goes on to join the lads on ESPN as a few times people have shown me some of his Tweets and he is a funny guy. Pairing him up with Austin and Ben should provide some hilarity and a bit of balance (Bath vs Tigers in the commentary booth).

After Trevor Woodman Retired post 2003 Dave Flatman should have won many more caps, he was always unlucky not to be selected and unfortunately his last two seasons he has struggled as previously mentioned because of his shoulder....good luck in the future

Another great character leaves the game, a real shame that his career has been so affected by injuries, he didnt really get as many caps as he deserved.

He will be a great pundit in the future, plus I'm sure he will have a very funny book if he decides to write one!

Real gent, proper pro and a funny man. Thanks Flats.

For those you didn't know, his column in the Independant is always good value

I do occasionally get accused of trying to wind supporters up, an accusation I strenuously deny by the way. But to the point, do you Bath chaps feel the loss of Flats & Bell will leave a bit of a leadership & club culture void within the team?

No, these guys needed to move on, nice lads but IMHO I don't want nice Props or forwards.

This is a new Gold'ern era for Bath Rugby, we'll win the HC within 3 seasons.

HERSH wrote:

This is a new Gold'ern era for Bath Rugby, we'll win the HC within 3 seasons.

Make that two.

What makes you think that? Who is your wealthy backer wasting money on this time?

If the rumours are true then I think people will be surprised by what can be achieved within two years

Which rumours are those?

That would be telling.

But if it's true, WOW!

HERSH wrote:If the rumours are true then I think people will be surprised by what can be achieved within two years

Like the rumours about: Ayerza, Jenkins, Castro, Croft, Wilkinson, Hook, Carter, Steyne...

I've yet to see a Bath rumour that IS true! My guess, Gavin Henson's on his way

Boo Hersh, share the gossip.

Though I suspect HKC has hit the nail on the head with Henson. Bath have tried to sign every other veteran Welsh player that's come on the market this off season.

That's Barnes, Bell and now Flats who have now gone although in truth only Bell in his prime a few years ago now, could have been called a dominant scrummager. I think a little will be lost in the team in terms of long term club players but we can still put out an English pack and it will be interesting to see who becomes club captain this year. Hooper was injured for most of last season.
Flats will go on to a successful career in whatever he chooses to undertake.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Boo Hersh, share the gossip.

Though I suspect HKC has hit the nail on the head with Henson. Bath have tried to sign every other veteran Welsh player that's come on the market this off season.

Have we? You must be well informed. I thought it was just Jones and Jenkins. Everyone says we needs props, so what did you expect?

It was a bit tongue in cheek as you've bid for Jenkins, Day, Jones and James so far this off season. Getting Day and James.

Flatman should have played for England more, and was unlucky with injuries and the obsession with Big Ted.

People forget how good bath have been before this last season..... everyone this preseason thought we were going to make the playoffs again...It has now come out that the bath squad didn't buy into SIM's management and to be fair to SIM he never wanted the job he ended up with...Last season was a blip on a general upward trend we saw with Steve Meehan. Now we have a new and promising coaching set up with a guy at the helm who will galvanise the squad and cut out any players not putting 100% in (which has been the general perception this year) .

SIM for all his failings last year did a great job bringing through the youth (for the first time in a long while !!!) so now we have the core of the old squad that did well in previous years ( mears, Classens, bendy, OB1, banahan) some young bolters with a years AP experience, a pack that is looking a hell of alot more solid with James/Webber/Day and some players that will be like new signings after a season blighted by injuries.. Donald, Eastmond, Hipkiss, Fearns.

Add to this the fact that during the Six Nations i would only expect to see between 1-4 players absent as supposed to tigers around 8-10 and i think we will be in a very different position come the playoffs

Nice positivity Chris, I agree! Think Fearns and Donald at full fitness will make a huge difference, but James could well be finally the prop we have been looking for!

It is perhaps the new coaches that are the most intriguing signing though, I wonder if Gold will light some fires under some a rses and instil some nastiness up front

Recruitment of James and Webber will help. If Gold can put a rocket up the arses of Attwood and Fearns then you are starting to look at a decent pack.

Behind the scrum it still looks a mess. Claassens deterioration can be expected to continue. Donald is pants, fit or not. Rest are exceedingly inconsistent.

Bendy and Biggs are two of the most consistent players in the prem! Donald will come good, if he doesn't Heathcote is good enough. Recruitment in the centres will make or break the season

I think more likely recruitment of another backrower will make or break your season. An injury to Louw early doors with Fearns still in indifferent form and I can see Bath out of the playoffs fairly early on. The league will be very competitive next year and in so many places Bath don't have a lot of quality cover.

Centres and back row recruitment, pretty sure i've said this at least twice now!