Gary Gold and Bath look at tie-up with Super Rugby side
Former Springbok assistant coach Gary Gold, who is the newly installed Bath head coach, is keen to pursue the possibility of a link-up with one of big Southern Hemisphere franchises.
The Bath boss believes the exchange of tactical ideas and players between two clubs could prove invaluable for both parties, particularly if one side is in the grip of an injury crisis.
If a partnership is agreed, then players contracted to a Premiership club could have the attractive prospect of playing in the Super 15.
With his credentials as a South African coach – Gold has been involved with the Stormers/Western Province as well as the national side – the obvious link-up would be with a South African franchise.
And while admitting that such a deal would be easier to operate because of the limited time difference, Gold is not ruling out a possible relationship with a side from either New Zealand or Australia.
“There has been chat about forming some sort of an alliance with a Super 15 side, although nothing has happened yet,” said Gold. “It might be a way to share ideas and players.
“There has been talk of forming a relationship with a Super rugby team but not necessarily a South African one.
“It’s something which, down the line, I would like to explore further.
“As clubs from different hemispheres, our paths don’t cross so we aren’t a threat to each other.”
Explaining the potential benefits, Gold added: “If there was a particular injury crisis then it could be a win-win situation for both clubs. If one club has no centres fit and the other has five, then the first can have access to centres, while players for the second club can be getting game-time.”
Springbok Francois Louw, who was Bath’s stand-in skipper at the end of last season, trained with the Stormers in May after the South African side suffered an injury crisis in the back-row. Negotiations took place in an attempt to enable Louw, who had himself just recovered from injury, to play for his former club, but they fell through.
Bath also deepened their relationships with South African rugby over the summer with centre Matt Banahan and scrum-half Mark McMillan appearing in a John Smit testimonial match against the Sharks in Durban.
In the meantime, Bath have looked nearer to home with the signings of Wales utility prop Paul James and former Wales U21 lock Dominic Day.
James, who has 38 caps, moves after nine years at Ospreys while Day has come from Scarlets. Day says: “A lot of the time people here don’t understand what Paul and I are saying to each other. We both have thick accents.”
Day and James are the latest Welsh players to head to England or France following the introduction of a £3.5m salary cap on the Welsh regions’ player budgets.
Day does not believe the move will harm their international prospects. “Part of the reason for coming here is to improve my forwards play. The Premiership’s got a reputation as a hard league with big forwards and there are quality sides to play week in week out.”
TOM BRADSHAW
