Spencer raring to go ahead of Bath return
The returning former fan favourite Will Spencer has been speaking of his excitement to get going for a second spell in the Blue, Black and White.
The 28-year-old signed for Bath in 2011 and made 22 appearances before leaving for Worcester Warriors in 2016. After being invited to an England training camp by Eddie Jones in 2017, Spencer then made the move to Leicester Tigers for the 2018/19 season where they finished 11th in the Gallagher Premiership.
Having signed to play for Bath when the current campaign restarts on August 15, Spencer is now raring to go having returned to Farleigh House for training last Thursday.
On Friday, he told the club’s website: “I had my first day back at the club yesterday and it was really good. I am staying with Tom Dunn at the moment which has been good, and it has helped me settle back in. It has been really great to see a lot of the lads in the team.
“I have fond memories of training and playing at Bath Rugby and just driving back into Farleigh was nostalgic, it reminded me of my time at the club as I think back to my first spell here.
“The professional training environment that Bath have at Farleigh is incredible and it felt really good to be back out there and running on the pitch, so there are exciting times ahead.
“I still have ambitions and things that I want to achieve in my career and my best rugby is still ahead of me.
“Bath Rugby is the place I want to be, and I look forward to starting the next chapter in my career.
“I am really excited. A lot of guys that I have spoken to have talked about how good the forward pack is down here. Not only that but how young the group is and hungry they are to succeed and achieve things and that is exactly what I want to be a part of.
“When I have played against Bath these last few years, they are always a really tough and physical pack to play against. I want to put my hand up and get myself in the mix.
“Competition for places is going to be massive and that is the exact atmosphere you need to thrive and push each other. I am hoping that we can dominate as a set piece and that it will lead to the team doing really well when the Premiership resumes.
“There are restrictions on where we can go at the moment for training and we have a strict policy on where we train in the gym and out on the pitch which is all for our safety.
“In terms of faces at the club there are a couple of rugby staff that were here from last time and in terms of the playing squad, there are people I either know from playing with or were here five years ago so it hasn’t been that daunting first day back at school feeling for me and it has made my transition back in a lot easier.
“Everyone is currently training in different groups and I must admit I was a bit scared when I saw my name on the list next to a group of backs, but it wasn’t too bad as that was more for individual stuff. It is good to see a lot of familiar faces in JJ [Jonathan Joseph], Anthony [Watson], Beno [Obano], Tommy Ellis, Dunn, Charlie Ewels and Mikey Williams, who I played with up at Leicester last season.”
The Bath players progressed to Stage 2, return to contact training, this week after welcoming the news from the Professional Game Board who gave provisional authorisation for small groups and/or teams to be able to interact in much closer contact, including the sharing of equipment where necessary.
As with Stage 1 return, the club is required to satisfy a number of minimum operating standards and work in this area continues to be advanced, allowing the delivery of a safe and secure environment for players and staff at Farleigh House.
The club will now be able to resume close contact training in groups which will help maximise the readiness of the players for the season return next month.