Blackadder delighted as bruised Bath bounce back

RUGBY: Bath boss Todd Blackadder praised his players’ response after they recovered from a battering against Saracens to reach this season’s European Challenge Cup semifinals by beating Brive. Wales back-row forward Taulupe Faletau (right) and England’s Semesa Rokoduguni scored two tries each as Bath advanced to face Ospreys or Stade Francais later this month. And it came just six days on from a 53-10 defeat at Allianz Park, where Bath suffered a heaviest Premiership defeat against any opponent for 15 years. ‘I am really pleased with the response from last weekend,’ Bath rugby director Blackadder said, following the 34-20 Recreation Ground triumph. ‘It wasn’t hard this week. Things needed to be addressed, and we just highlighted things.’ Fly-half Rhys Priestland added a penalty and three conversions, but Brive did not go quietly, as Faletau’s opposite number Fabien Sanconnie also claimed two tries, both converted by Gaetan Germain who also kicked two penalties.

RUGBY: Players’ representatives will meet Premiership Rugby bosses this week to demand guaranteed future rest periods amid fears of a ‘never ending season’ which could have serious long-term mental and physical repercussions. Senior figures on the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) player board, representing England’s top-flight professional, are concerned about the lack of information provided by Premiership Rugby over plans to extend the domestic league season to 10 months in duration from 2020.