Muir chosen for GB Sevens
Will Muir is a man in demand and no wonder the way he is playing.
The former England Sevens Player of the Year has been a revelation since breaking into the Bath first team squad in February and on current form looks to have a firm grip on the number 11 jersey, certainly until the internationals return.
After signing for the Blue, Black and White in the summer, Muir, 25, was given his debut off the bench against Harlequins and made quite the impression, starting in the next three games with Bath going unbeaten.
Now the winger has been named as one of 21 players in the GB Sevens Mens training squad for the forthcoming campaign.
With training camps and preolympic events due to be held during the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership, Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper has been quick to clarify it is a case of ‘Bath first’ when it comes to Muir’s rugby.
Hooper said: “It is something that is within our control.
“It is not the same situation as an EPS type agreement.
“Will and I have spoken and it is absolutely something that is on his radar but it has to work for all of us.
“I have been in contact with the guys, with Tony Roques [GB Sevens Men’s head coach] and Charlie Hayter [GB Sevens team leader] at GB Sevens.
“If the opportunity is there and it works for all of us then it is something which is good but other than that it is Bath first absolutely.”
On Sunday another former sevens star Ruaridh Mcconnochie returned from a leg injury sustained in the defeat to Bristol Bears to make a huge impact off the bench, slotting in at full back in place of Tian Schoeman.
Hooper said: “He [Mcconnochie] is a dangerous runner. Slotting in at full back I thought he did well and I thought he combined well with Will Muir down the left. Those two can be pretty dangerous running at you.”
In 28 minutes on the pitch against Saints, Mcconnochie finished as Bath’s most dangerous runner, making 65m in attack, making two clean breaks and beating four defenders - topping his team’s stats in all three departments.