Fantastic news for Bath Rugby!

[Mon Ami Mate]

I'll have to think of a creative link to motoring for this one...but Bath Rugby has just announced the reappointment of Brian Ashton as head coach. Bath are sort of the Liverpool of rugby - we won everything for years, and then went into a protracted period of underachievement. Brian Ashton was coach throughout most of the great years and was then lost to the England coaching set-up. He was Ireland coach for a while and is widely respected as the most innovative coach in British rugby. Now we're getting him back for January. I'm off to the bookies - you can get 25/1 on Bath winning the European Cup...

Erm, Brian Ashton apparently has a huge collection of TVRs and Porsches, so I've been told ;)

[yertis]

Mon Ami Mate said:

Erm, Brian Ashton apparently has a huge collection of TVRs and Porsches, so I've been told

He'll do then...

[Laingy]

This is excellent news, will stop the crap forward dominated rugby they play now, and move towards a more balanced game./ brian is an excellent coach, and obviously likes cars.

[Highway Star]

Excellent news! Last time I was at the Rec was watching an Ashton-coached team, the England A vs France A game in February this year - absolutely poured it down (sat in the open stand on a Friday night ) but England A played a great game and won a good match - hope Ashton can transfer that to the Bath team.

How are the plans for the transformation of the Rec going on? Still bulldozing the leisure centre?

[Mannginger]

I used to go to school with Brian's son Tony. He was in fact head of our House and a good lad to boot.He's been working with Bath RFC ever since he left school. He'll no doubt be delighted that his Dad is coming back as he has always been their biggest fan.

I do remember one time when Brian came to pick Tony up with Jerry Guscott in tow to help shift his trunk and bags etc!

Welcome back Brian!

Phil

[Mon Ami Mate]

Highway Star said:

Excellent news! Last time I was at the Rec was watching an Ashton-coached team, the England A vs France A game in February this year - absolutely poured it down (sat in the open stand on a Friday night ) but England A played a great game and won a good match - hope Ashton can transfer that to the Bath team. How are the plans for the transformation of the Rec going on? Still bulldozing the leisure centre?

It's no exaggeration to say that the future of Bath Rugby depends on development of the Rec. The ground is hopelessly inadequate and is in a real state. However, a self-serving bunch of nimbys are campaigning against redevelopment, even though what is proposed will be far more visually appealing than the existing mess.

If they win the club will have to make a choice between staying put and doing nothing, which will guarantee that they are unable to bring in as much revenue as competitors and will therefore end up becoming a nonentity, or moving out of Bath, which will guarantee the loss of most of the fan base.

The problem is that the club rents the ground and the Rec area was bequeathed to the citizens of Bath by the owners about 100 years ago. Most local people want to see the development done, provided it is sympathetic to the surrounds, because it will create a venue for events other than rugby, which is something Bath sorely needs.

As usual though, prepare for the wishes of the majority to be ridden over roughshod by a vocal minority...

[Mon Ami Mate]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Must admit, I would never have thought of you as a Downside boy...

[Mon Ami Mate]

Didn't know that Robbo and JP had coached at King Edward - I knew they had been at Downside for a few years. I almost went to King Edward...but got packed off to College in South Africa instead.

[williamp]

Saw them lose to Leicester at welford road. First try by Leicester after about 30 seconds. bath did play well, but the results didnt show that.