Francois Louw: I’m happy to split Bath with Springboks

Just seven days after playing for the Springboks in a pulsating Rugby Championship decider against New Zealand, Francois Louw was not only running out for Bath in Bordeaux but wearing the captain’s armband for the full 80 minutes.
The globe-trotting flanker  is ready to play out the remainder of his club career at the Recreation Ground while continuing to represent his country.
When the trans-hemisphere rugby superstar signed his first contract with Bath as a 26-year-old in 2011, there were signals that Louw could potentially remain at the club until the end of his career.
Now that looks set to come true, with the ball-winning openside telling The Rugby Paper that he is not only committed to the club until 2017 but also geed up by the vision of owner Bruce Craig and the club’s “tight family ethos”.
“While I’m with South Africa my whole focus is on South Africa and playing there,” said Louw, who turned down an offer from his home-town club Western Province to sign a contract extension with Bath in August.
“But Bath is my club and having re-signed means a lot to me.
“Over the summer I was deciding where to go and what to do with my career. After a fantastic two years at Bath I was coming into my third season, and I was making the decision whether to go back home or not.
“I am very excited to have signed on here and it’s what I’d always wanted. Bath’s really grown on me, not just the city and the fans but the team. It’s a great team to play for and I really think it’s going places.
“It’s sometimes a difficult thing to make that mental transition from country to club – a new team, a new set of moves, a new set of team ethics, a new everything really.
“But it is important to make that adjustment and coming to a side like Bath makes it quite easy for me. We are a tight group and a very open group.
“The guys have been very accepting with a few foreigners coming back from the Rugby Championship. They make you feel very welcome, and everyone – the coaches and the players – get you straight back into the game. I’m just taking it from where I left off last time.”
Louw, who has established himself as a Springbok regular since moving to Bath, received a welcome back present from team-mate George Ford following last Saturday’s the Amlin Cup win in Bordeaux – the man of the match award.
Fly-half Ford had been presented with the accolade by European Rugby Cup, but immediately handed it to Louw, who had delivered a typically barnstorming display.
And such a move is indicative of a flourishing collective spirit at Bath, believes the 25-cap Springbok.
“It was a nice gesture from George and I was very honoured. Sometimes certain individuals shine in a game but that’s often due to the team aiding that individual and putting them in a position to perform and play their style of game.
“What George did says a lot about the culture and the ethos that we have within this side. We are a very tight family and that’s what we need to go forward.”
TOM BRADSHAW