| To Bath |
Team |
From Bath |
Team |
| Mike Baxter |
Pertemps Bees |
David Bory
|
Brive |
| Daniel Browne |
Northampton Saints |
Gareth Delve
|
Gloucester
|
| Michael Claassens |
Free State Cheetahs |
Christian Loader |
retired |
| Neil Clark |
Cornish All Blacks (on loan as World Cup cover) |
Hottie Louw |
|
| Paulica Ion |
Bucaresti |
Chris Malone |
Harlequins
|
| Martin Purdy |
London Wasps |
Mike Mangeolles |
Bristol |
| Lorne Ward |
Harlequins |
Matt Perry |
retired |
|
Butch James
|
Natal Sharks |
Pietro Travagli |
Parma |
|
|
Dave Ward |
Northampton Saints |
|
|
Andy Williams |
Newport Gwent Dragons |
|
|
Martyn Wood |
retired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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The following biographies of new signings for 2007-08 will appear on a separate page for each player in due course.
Mike Baxter
Mike Baxter rejoins Bath Rugby in 2007/08 after a year with Pertemps Bees.
The scrum-half was a member of the Bath Academy and previously enjoyed six outings for the Bath first team, between 2004 and 2006.
He was otherwise a mainstay of the United side, but on his return, Baxter – a gritty competitor with an eye for the break – will be looking to step up more often to challenge for the number nine jersey.
Daniel Browne
Daniel Browne joined Bath Rugby in the summer from Northampton Saints.
The 27-year-old is a specialist No 8, and has signed a three-year deal after spending two seasons at Franklin’s Gardens, where his pace, handling skills and try-scoring ability made him a popular figure.
Although a New Zealander, his father is Irish, and before joining Northampton he spent three years in France at Grenoble.
Head Coach Steve Meehan and Forwards Coach Mark Bakewell both formerly coached in France, and it was partly their knowledge of Browne from those days that drew them to sign him for Bath.
Michael Claassens
Michael Claassens joined Bath Rugby from Super 14 side the Cheetahs over the summer on a two-year deal.
A tough, physical scrum-half whose service is highly rated, Claassens also has a good boot and is very strong in defence. With six caps for the Springboks the 24-year-old is of international class.
He bosses a pack very well and his quick service should provide the backs with the ball they need to get Bath going forward. Claassens will have to displace current incumbent Nick Walshe from the scrum-half spot, but with he has the advantage of relative youth to bring to the challenge.
Neil Clark (on loan)
In a deal with the Cornish All Blacks, hooker Neil Clark will joined Bath Rugby on loan at the start of the season as World Cup cover.
Clark, who was on loan at Launceston from Bristol Rugby towards the end of this season, has signed a permanent deal with the Cornish club. He has represented England at Students and Under 21 level and had the honour of scoring the Cornish All Blacks’ last try in National Division Two.
Launceston’s partnership with Bath Rugby will see Neil instantly loaned out to Bath for pre-season and England’s World Cup campaign. Therefore Clark is available for Bath in the early part of next season.
Paulica Ion
Paulica Ion signed for Bath Rugby at the end of last season from Bucaresti, and will join the club after the Rugby World Cup.
The 24-year-old has been capped 18 times for Romania – who traditionally have a strong pack – since his debut against Argentina during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He may not be a household name at the moment, but he was the cornerstone of the Romanian pack that dominated the Scottish scrum in November 2006, and the club is looking forward to him providing the team with the same strength.
Martin Purdy
Martin Purdy joined Bath over the summer from London Wasps on a one-year deal.
Aged 25, Purdy has made 37 Premiership appearances for Wasps since his debut in 2003, and 8 in the Heineken Cup, so has plenty to offer Bath.
Purdy will be able to learn from the illustrious second-row duo of Danny Grewcock and Steve Borthwick, but will also hope to get a tilt at a starting place if they are called up to the World Cup.
A Cambridge Blue, Purdy also picked up a first-class degree in Mechanical Engineering, which suggests he will bring brains as well as brawn to the field.
Lorne Ward
Lorne Ward joined Bath from Harlequins over the summer on a one-year deal, and brings with him plenty of experience of top-class rugby.
The tighthead prop is 30 years old and made 33 appearances for Harlequins after joining them in 2005 from London Welsh.
Ward is South African and previously played for Watsonians, Maritzburg University College Rovers in South Africa and Natal A.
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