The Bath Rugby Thread

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

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Please feel free to discuss all things Bath related, so pull up a chair an have a quite drink among friends, mines a Bath Ales Dark Side please.

Other fans welcome but remember, play nicely.

[LondonTiger]

Exactly! So now we need the TH! Can't really think of one coming towards the end of a career that might fancy it though Jannie Du Plessis possibly

Julian White

Or of course.........


Phil Vickery

[HERSH]

I think Big Phil Vickerys retired

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

I think Big Phil Vickerys retired

Someone's got to do it:

Really? I hadn't heard.

[Bathite]

When does Jacque Fourie's contract run out in Japan? You could do with a world class centre.

When does Fourie Du Preez's contract in Japan run out? He would be much more worthwhile for Bath to sign as a scrum half.

Both these players would be expensive but with a South African coach and a sugar daddy neither is out of the question.

Now we're talking! But surely the Saffacens would get first dibs on Jacques! You boys really do need some centres

[HERSH]

I've heard a few rumours that Bath might be interested in sharing a ground with Bristol Rovers, not to sure if this is a long term thing or just while the Rec is re-developed.

Anyone else know anything?

[LondonTiger]

I thought Bristol RFC were already partners with Bristol Rovers?

[HERSH]

It will be their new ground.

I think it could also be the death of Brizzle which is a shame, as they should have been in the Jeff this year if it wasn't for the silly Championship play off system.

It's only a rumour at the moment.

[HongKongCherry]

How much did Gloucester pay for Cowan, now that's a good bit of business.

Apparently it was for around £250k, but there are no details confirming this. If you were to sign Youngs you would of course get £100k for his EPS allowance, but then you have to weigh that up against not having him every week.

[LondonTiger]

Wehen does Cowan arrive?

[HongKongCherry]

At the end of the month.

[yappysnap]

You have been ripped off there HKC!

Still we might need to borrow some of that cash to pay for Nev's wages...

[HongKongCherry]

You have been ripped off there HKC!

Still we might need to borrow some of that cash to pay for Nev's wages...

We've definitely paid over the odds, but then we haven't had a decent attacking SH since Pete Richards left the club in 2007. I'm pretty sure he's our marquee signing, so someone is picking up the tab for him!

[HERSH]

Gareth Cooper was a good SH

[HongKongCherry]

Gareth Cooper was a good SH

In some alternate Universe, but in this one he was utter tripe

[HERSH]

He was alright in Blue Black and white!

Just don't put him anywhere near the colour red, it always brought out the worst in him

[LondonTiger]

Good at Bath, crap at Gloucester back line:

Cooper
Barkley
Balshaw
Tindall
??????
??????
Voyce

[HERSH]

To be fair Voyce only played well at Wasps

[HongKongCherry]

And actually Voyce was pretty decent in his 2nd & 3rd season with us, but not as good as his Wasps days. But I can't argue that the others have played better for us than Bath. At least we're starting to repay the favour, come on Mr Attwood don't let us down!!

[gregortree]

NAKED BRISTOLS ?
So how much a pint in Bath, if Bristols are your currency ?
"The city of Bristol has launched its own currency, which cannot be used in Bath, never mind Berlin or Bombay.More than 350 firms in the city have signed up, making it the UK's largest alternative to sterling. Unlike previous schemes which have relied on paper, the Bristol Pound can be used online, even by mobile phone. But other local currencies have never really taken off, so can the Bristol scheme really fly?

[PJHolybloke]

Well, what's the score down The Rec then?

Olly Barkley looks to be joining Racing with immediate effect, yeah, the Olly Barkley who kicked Bath to their first two wins of the season, seriously, that Olly feckin Barkley!!! The third choice 10 that's playing because the 1st and 2nd choices aren't available...

http://www.rmcsport.fr/editorial/301338/ollie-barkley-joker-medical-au-racing/

Either GG has secured a replacement signing or Olly Devoto will be turning out against Irish on Saturday.

WTF?!

[ChequeredJersey]

Sounds like an interesting story behind this...

[PJHolybloke]

There'd better be CJ.

[HongKongCherry]

Where was HERSH Farleigh House contact for this one?!

Surely Barkley won't be going until after this weekend? But when are Donald and Heathcote due back?

[PJHolybloke]

Donald's reintroduction to the team is described as "complex" and Heathcote is tentatively pencilled in for October...

[HERSH]

This is all very interesting!

[HongKongCherry]

Donald's reintroduction to the team is described as "complex" and Heathcote is tentatively pencilled in for October...

That's not very encouraging. Is Vesty fit? Maybe he's lined up for 10 for a week or two?

[PJHolybloke]

Yeah, Vesty's fit, but with the other two being so tenuous in terms of availability, it seems a very odd move to make, not only does it leave Bath light at 10, but with Banahan being injured and Agulla away with Argentina, it also leaves them light on centre options. In both cases just one injury away from using academy players.

There has to be something wrong or something happening, it makes little sense otherwise.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

PJ, never fear, I am sure that Hersh will be along any second with news of ANOTHER BIG signing (or perhaps he'll be looking to resuscitate the previous BIG signing)

[PJHolybloke]

I'm all a'feared bud, there are rumours Barkley's rift with Ford has never healed and this is as much to do with OB as anything else.

Bath are not far off being very short on senior players in key positions...

[PJHolybloke]

It's been reported on RMC sport, 20 minutes & Rugby 365 France.

Racing have serious injuries to Wisniewski and Dambielle and Hernandez is with Argentina for The Championship so they're pretty desperate, fine, I understand that.

Bath aren't in a much better position themselves though, so why would they let OB go? It's been reported that Bath have exceeded the salary cap so need to lighten the wage load, if that's the case, how have they exceeded the salary cap?

Bath have signed Agulla, Day, James and Webber but have shed Bell, Flatman, Moody & Carraro, if we also assume that the highest earner (probably Sicknote) is now outside of the cap as the "Marquee signing", Bath have dumped a fair amount of wages that they certainly haven't replaced with the new signings.

If it's true and OB is going to free up more salary, that can only be for one reason, surely?

However, there is a stoney silence from the Rec and one current player and a recently retired player have commented off the record that there has been no suggestion of any movements.

The reports from France are saying that the terms are agreed between the two clubs and it only remains for Barkley to say yes and it's a done deal.

Curiouser and curiouser, no?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

PJ, does your marquee player not have to have been with the club for 3 years, or something like that?

[PJHolybloke]

I don't know As, I thought it was an instant deal to allow a big signing? Maybe they have to be on a 3 year contract? Even if it is a 3 year rule, they could use Mears, he must be on big bucks.

I still reckon there's a big black hole there amounting to around 2-250k if Barkley goes.

This sort of nonsense always seems to involve Bath and it does my nut in, the rumours regarding transfers are a constant source of ridicule these days, a total embarrassment to a club that has consistently struggled with professionalism in every sense of the word!

[Bathite]

It's been reported on RMC sport, 20 minutes & Rugby 365 France.

Racing have serious injuries to Wisniewski and Dambielle and Hernandez is with Argentina for The Championship so they're pretty desperate, fine, I understand that.

Bath aren't in a much better position themselves though, so why would they let OB go? It's been reported that Bath have exceeded the salary cap so need to lighten the wage load, if that's the case, how have they exceeded the salary cap?

Bath have signed Agulla, Day, James and Webber but have shed Bell, Flatman, Moody & Carraro, if we also assume that the highest earner (probably Sicknote) is now outside of the cap as the "Marquee signing", Bath have dumped a fair amount of wages that they certainly haven't replaced with the new signings.

If it's true and OB is going to free up more salary, that can only be for one reason, surely?

However, there is a stoney silence from the Rec and one current player and a recently retired player have commented off the record that there has been no suggestion of any movements.

The reports from France are saying that the terms are agreed between the two clubs and it only remains for Barkley to say yes and it's a done deal.

Curiouser and curiouser, no? :headscratch:

We've also lost Moody and Beattie off the cap, 150k and 80ish k respectively

[PJHolybloke]

Thanks. Bathite, got Moody in there but forgot about Beattie. I make that about 300k then. How much are you allowed for a marquee signing?

[LondonTiger]

interesting that the original report suggests that Barkley was offered to Racing because Bath were over the salary cap. If they are over now, how much were they over before they releasewd all the names mentioned above?

[beshocked]

Losing Barkley could be a blessing in disguise. Against Saints all he did was kick. Normally gratefully into a Saints' players hands.

I think a high profile SA should be the target. Already mentioned Fourie and Du Preez but what's the contract situation of Patrick Lambie and JP Pietersen?

[HERSH]

Typical!

My contact at is on holiday.

[LondonTiger]

Losing Barkley could be a blessing in disguise. Against Saints all he did was kick. Normally gratefully into a Saints' players hands.

I think a high profile SA should be the target. Already mentioned Fourie and Du Preez but what's the contract situation of Patrick Lambie and JP Pietersen?

If they are trying to offload Barkley because they are over the cap - doubt they can afford any of those.

[beshocked]

How can Bath be over the cap?

[HERSH]

Because Bath paid cash instead of buying Italian restaurants for players or paying its staff through off shore accounts.

[beshocked]

Nothing wrong with offshore accounts. Italian restaurants on the other hand.....

[HongKongCherry]

Typical!

My contact at Farleigh House is on holiday.

Unless a horde of Bath employees have gone on holiday, surely you will have just revealed your source?!

[LondonTiger]

The cleaners are on a week long hen do in ibiza, so the identity i sstill safe.

[HERSH]

Typical!

My contact at Farleigh House is on holiday.

Unless a horde of Bath employees have gone on holiday, surely you will have just revealed your source?!

Oops!

[HERSH]

Took my eye off the ball there!

I think I might have had one too many last night

[HERSH]

On the Beeb now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19660624

[PJHolybloke]

The salary cap angle has to be nonsense. There are 2 possibly 3 players Bath could farm out with no obvious detriment to the first team squad. Maybe a replacement IS in the pipeline.

Hardly surprising that the club has yet to comment.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Typical!

My contact at is on holiday.

How convenient!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Losing Barkley could be a blessing in disguise. Against Saints all he did was kick. Normally gratefully into a Saints' players hands.

I think a high profile SA should be the target. Already mentioned Fourie and Du Preez but what's the contract situation of Patrick Lambie and JP Pietersen?

Morne Steyn? At least biltong would be happy!

[HERSH]

Typical!

My contact is on holiday.

How convenient!

No it isn't, I need to know whats going on!

Is the deal back on or not?

What has Ollie said or done to upset everyone?

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