Fruean for Bath

Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean has linked with his old New Zealand coaches at English rugby club Bath. The 28-year-old will move north once he completes his stint with Hawke’s Bay in the national provincial championship. Kiwi coaches Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson are making a rapid impression at Bath, who sit third on the English Premiership table with three wins and a loss from the opening month. Fruean is held in high regard by the coaching duo who returned him to the Crusaders in 2015 and 2016 after a deal with the Chiefs in Super Rugby was blighted by illness.