Cameron Redpath revelling in leadership role at Rec

YOUTHFUL centre Cameron Redpath says he is grateful for his new found leadership role as Bath continue their quest to bring back the glory days to the Rec.

Redpath, just turned 21, has proved a revelation since arriving from Sale last February, quickly establishing himself as an integral part of the Bath side that reached last season’s Premiership semi-finals before carrying that form into the current campaign.

A former England U20s player who also qualifies for Scotland by dint of being the son of legendary Tartan scrum-half Bryan, right, Redpath has already attracted the attentions of Red Rose head coach Eddie Jones as a powerful, creative midfield presence for Bath.

“It’s been a good move for me,” Redpath told The Rugby Paper. “I feel like a different person since I’ve been at Bath and I’ve really taken on a leadership role as well, which is what I wanted because I feel I play my best rugby when I’m happy and leading as well.

“I feel like I’ve got that opportunity here and I’m also getting lots of minutes, but I’ve still got a lot more to give and there’s a lot more I can do in terms of creating opportunities.

“We’ve had a bit of a staggered start to the season with things not quite going our way like they were towards the end of last season. But I think that will come and, having been at Bath for nearly a year, I’m happy with the way things are going personally.”

Of his leadership role, Redpath explained: “It wasn’t actually spoken about in my first conversations with Stuart Hooper but as my first season went on, he felt I’d been becoming quite influential and, being quite young as well, it feels like I’m a kind of building block between the younger and older lads at the club, which is something I’ve enjoyed massively.

“I’ve worked myself into the senior players’ group and feel like I’m really starting to progress now.

“Coming out of the U20s you have to grow up pretty quickly in the Premiership because it’s quite a mature league and a lot of the lads here didn’t realise I was only 21 until I had my birthday a couple of weeks ago, so I’m really quite happy about that.

“You shouldn’t be judged on your age, you should be judged on how you are as a player and if you do something wrong you should know about it, whether you’re 21 or 31. That’s how I was brought up and dad always pushed me from the age of 11 or 12.

“When I play well, he never says much, but when I play poorly, I always know about it. I’ve always been quite critical of myself and he’s been critical as well, but unlike some parents who say what they see, it’s different with him because he knows the game.

“He’s been a massive influence and if he hadn’t been involved, I don’t think I’d have been playing at this level at 21 – it would have taken a bit longer.”

While international rugby would be a bonus, Redpath’s eyes are firmly fixed on helping Bath end a 13-year trophy drought.

He added: “As a 21-year-old it would be unreal to play international rugby but if I’m not playing well for Bath it’s irrelevant anyway.

“I want to get picked for Bath first and foremost and we’re in a building stage of finding our attack.

“We’re seeing good pictures in training and, as the season goes on, we should start seeing a lot more attacking rugby from us and a lot more tries.

“We know we can do it and when it’s clicked it’s been very good, so we just need to achieve that more consistently and show what we’re capable of.

“We’re only six games in and showed last season that it’s towards the back end when it really counts.”

By NEALE HARVEY