Position: Prop
Date of birth: 21st Jul 1987
Height: 1.85m (6' 1")
Weight: 120kg (18st 13lb)
Loosehead prop Charlie Beech arrived at Bath Rugby this summer, and has made quite an impact since he joined. Very strong and technically sound at scrum time, as well as being very mobile around the field, he's made 15 appearances so far in the Blue, Black and White, and scored his debut try away to Worcester after a driving maul drove the Bath pack drive the Warriors backwards and Beech peeled away to touchdown.
Charlie also has international experience, having been part of the England set-up up to U20's level, including being part of the squad for the 2007 U20's Six Nations.
With over half the season behind us, we thought we'd sit with Charlie and find out how he's settling into life in the country...
How have you settled into life in Bath?
"Myself and my family are really happy at Bath, both the Club and the city. Obviously on the pitch we could have hoped for a better run up to Christmas as far as results go, but I really believe that the team is building up to something special. You only have to look at the London Irish game to see that we have it in us to play some fantastic rugby, we just need to make sure we hit those gears every game."
How are you finding living in the countryside?
"I love it in the country; we are currently considering a move to a farmhouse! I'm not really a big city person, London has its charms but nothing much that appeals to me, whereas Bath has a really relaxing atmosphere - I'm much more at home here."
How did you start out playing rugby?
"I started out at age 6 for Biggleswade, up in Bedfordshire. I was taken along to rugby by my dad as he couldn't bear to watch me play football any longer!
"Aside from six months in the back row when I was 15, I have always been a prop. I was given a scholarship after England U16s to attend Oakham school with the proviso that I would join Northampton Saints after doing my A levels; the man who funded it, Lyn Wilson, was a huge driving force in sport in Northants."
A lot is being made at the moment about the "problems" at scrum time, where do you see the problem lying?
"We have to watch a lot of scrums every week as part of our analysis for the weekend's game, and the more I watch the more I come to realise that there is so much going on that for one man to keep an eye on it all is asking too much. The touch judges can watch for certain things, binding being the most obvious, but that still leaves a whole myriad of offences for the ref to watch. I'm not sure how to fix it really – perhaps by bringing in an extra referee for the scrums maybe, or having specialist scrum training courses for the referees would help."
Away from the pitch, other than running around after your two little ones, what else do you like to do? Do they give you much chance to relax?!
"They do require an awful lot of running around after! My littlest, Fleur, is just learning to walk and has already mastered the art of climbing up onto sofas and flinging herself off, so not too much time to myself during the day at the moment!
"Otherwise, I spend an awful lot of time in front of my PC playing one game or another or practicing on my keyboard. I have just found a glass blowing workshop just outside of Farleigh so I am looking at taking that up too. Lots of people will be getting hand-made baubles for Christmas next year!"
Quickfire Q&A:
What is your matchday breakfast? Sausage, egg, bacon and beans
Who would play you in a film of your life? Seth Rogen, according to my brothers
Which player did you most admire when you were younger? Jason Leonard
If you were stranded on a desert island, which team mate would you take with you and why? Biggsy, because he hardly eats anything so there would be more for me!
If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you bought? Houses all over the world
Who would captain your rugby dream team? Serge Betsen
Which song do you know all the words to? 'Leaving on a jet plane' by John Denver
If you could have one super power, what would it be? The ability to learn anything instantly
If you knew the world was about to end, what would you do? Buy a spaceship!
Which would you prefer to win, the Premiership or the Heineken Cup? Heineken Cup
Who has been the toughest opposing prop you've come up against? Carl Hayman
What other position would you like to have played? Number 8
Who do you think will win the 6 Nations? Ireland
What's the best piece of advice you've been given? Read 'The Guy in the Glass' by Dale Wimbrow
If you could do a make-over on a teammate, who would it be and why? Nick Scott, so he and his girlfriend wouldn't go out wearing the same bright red jeans
