Bath call in Jason Robinson to mentor Kyle Eastmond
Robinson, without doubt the most successful convert of all time, has been called upon to give advice to 23-year-old Eastmond to make sure his second season in the 15-man game is more memorable than the first.
“We’ve spoken to Jason to ask if he could give Kyle some advice every step of the way,” confirmed Bath coach Mike Ford who, like Eastmond, hails from Oldham.
“They have already got together and had a chat and by all accounts it went well.
“I know that both of them are going to follow that up once he has got a handful of games behind him to further gauge his progress.
“They are very, very similar players and they have very similar backgrounds so hopefully it can be a lasting working relationship and Kyle can seek advice whenever he feels he needs to.
“I can’t imagine there are any better mentors for Kyle than Jason.
“Jason has been one of the world’s best players and it fantastic for Kyle and for us at Bath that he is explaining all the difficulties that he faced when he changed codes.”
Big things were expected of Eastmond following his big money move to The Rec last summer, but a string of frustrating injuries ruined his debut campaign in the Union code.
Eastmond made just three appearances in the famous blue, black and white jersey that Robinson once wore himself during a brief spell at Bath back in 1996.
Robinson only showed glimpses of what was to come from him in future years while on loan at the West Country club before he returned to Wigan, and Rugby League, for the following four years until making the switch full-time with Sale in 2000.
Like Robinson, Eastmond is expected to play in the back three, although a role in the Bath midfield has not been ruled out.
Ford added: “We want to try and find a position for him that brings out the best in Kyle Eastmond.
“I have seen it happen before where a player’s confidence has gone because they are trying to be somebody else.
“Taking the example of Jason Robinson… once he had learned the game – and it didn’t take him long – he started being the Jason Robinson that set him apart from everybody else. We are hoping that whatever position we play Kyle in he can bring the quality he showed in League to Union. That is the reason why Bath signed him in the first place.
“We don’t want to make Kyle a normal Rugby Union player, with all due respect, because he has that uniqueness about him.”
Ford said: “Kyle is having a good pre-season, like everybody else, and is fit at the moment. But we are in no rush for him to start producing. We just want him to progress at the rate he is comfortable at.
“We want him to continue learning the game and fully understand the game while keeping his uniqueness. There is no pressure from our point of view.
“He will be ready when he is ready.”
JON NEWCOMBE
