Bath Rugby can today announce the signing of former Atlanta Falcons’ Tight-End Alex Gray, who has spent the last three years within their practice squad, before deciding to return to Rugby Union.
The athletic 29-year-old joins up with the Blue, Black and White ahead of the 2020/21 season having already developed relationships with existing players and staff at the Club.
The wing has been brought in to add depth to an already talented group of players positioned on the wide channels at the Club and is expected to be an option at centre. Gray, standing at 6’ 6 and weighing in at 113kg, will bring an exciting point of difference and has been carefully selected through a rigorous recruitment process.
Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper commented on the signing of winger Alex Gray and said: “Alex is a confident and very talented rugby player who brings in a lot of experience to the group. He is an adventurous individual that has done a lot of great things in this sport as well as striving to earn a career in the NFL in his most recent professional outing.
“We have been keeping tabs on Alex for a long time now and when the opportunity arose to sign him, we couldn’t pass on that. He will join up with a talented group of players with calibre for their attacking style of play.
“I am confident that he will fit seamlessly into the group here at Bath Rugby and we look forward to seeing how he develops his game.”
Formerly of Yorkshire Carnegie, London Irish, Newcastle Falcons and England Sevens, Gray held an established career within Rugby Union before venturing over to the United States. The winger will seamlessly slot into Bath’s style of play adding plenty of pace, power and control to our game.
Gray put his rugby career on hold in 2016 after desiring a career in the National Football League, and eventually progressed through the NFL's International Player Pathway programme in Florida. From there the 29-year-old was signed to the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, where he remained for three seasons.
Squad Update
Joe Cokanasiga – Joe continues to improve his readiness to perform to his very best following his complex knee injury.
Tom de Glanville – Tom is fully fit and plying his trade at full-back as well as having the ability to cover wing. We await the results of the review following the cancellation of the Barbarians’ fixture last month.
Ruaridh McConnochie – Ruaridh is currently on England’s reserve list with a full flurry of International games coming up but is fully invested in Bath Rugby and the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Semesa Rokoduguni – Semesa is another of our players who is fit and ready for the beginning of the new campaign.
Gabriel Hamer-Webb – Following his breakthrough season, Gabriel has recently undergone surgery on an issue in his foot and will be out of action for the start of the season. Gabriel is now working to return to his best levels of performance and be back when he is ready to contribute throughout the league and European campaign.
Will Muir – Will is training actively with the squad and is learning the ropes as the side are set to begin their 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership campaign.
Anthony Watson –Anthony has recently been back at the Club for treatment on a very minor injury, but the British and Irish Lion, and England international will return to camp to help Eddie Jones’ side in the Autumn Nations Cup.
