Davies arrives following a strong season for Club and country. The second rower played a prominent role during Bath’s U18 campaign last season, whilst also helping Wales U18 to a 29-19 triumph over England U18 in March.

Having just finished studying at Millfield School, Davies will be looking to emulate the success of recent fellow alumni Tom Ellis and Josh Bayliss into the Bath first team ranks.

Partington has also enjoyed a successful season, featuring for Bath United in the A League during the 2016/17 campaign. The quick-footed Partington, who is comfortable across all back three positions, has shown his counter-attacking qualities.

Reid meanwhile has spent a large part of the season rehabilitating from injury, but has established himself as a key figure in the Bath Academy programme. A strong ball carrier and physical presence from the back row, the future looks bright for the former Beechen Cliff pupil.

Verden, another Beechen Cliff graduate, has also signed terms with Bath Rugby. An imposing prop with a strong set piece, Verden was a dominant force in 2016/17, captaining the Bath Academy in 2017. His performances throughout the season saw him rewarded with a place in the England U18 squad for their summer tour of South Africa.

Academy Manager, Andy Rock, said: “We are really excited about this young group joining us at what is a great time to be around the Club with pre-season just underway. There’s a lot of work for these guys to put in and some real challenges in front of them, but we’re here and ready with the quality of support they will need to learn from their experiences this summer.

“There have been some great examples recently of players stepping up from the Academy and being given their chances here at Bath, and we’ve no doubt that these players have the potential to do the same.

"One fantastic thing for us is that these players are all progressing within our system from strong environments at both Beechen Cliff and Millfield School. The strength of partnerships and relationships for us as a Club is incredibly important. With a lot more work going on between us and the University of Bath in the years ahead, the possibilities within both the rugby and academic pathways for our young players are really strong.”

Pictures courtesy of Anthony Gilbert

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