Griffiths looking at staff and systems
Stuart Hooper says consultant Ed Griffiths’ review of faltering Bath Rugby is very much focused on his staffing group and the club’s systems.
The former Saracens CEO has been brought in to closely examine the way the Blue, Black and White operate having lost 13 of their last 14 games stretching back to April last season.
Former club captain Hooper has had to answer questions about his future as director of rugby at the club several times from the press as Bath remain bolted to the floor of the league table.
Discussing Griffiths, who was seen in the crowd at Mattolli Woods Welford Road last weekend during Bath’s spirited 40-23 defeat to Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers, Hooper said: “I have spoken to him a bit. He has spoken to quite a few people and I am really interested to see what he has to say and his views on where we are.
“He is absolutely not watching training or sitting in on meetings, he is spending some time with key individuals across the business, heads of department, and building a view from those people on what they are doing day-to-day.”
Hooper continued: “It is very much a review of my staffing group, the systems we have, and the processes we have rather than what the lads are doing on the field dayto-day because his expertise doesn’t lie in coaching and the actual 80 minutes in the game.”
A criticism aimed towards Bath for some time now is the club’s lack of a specialist defence coach with head coach Neal Hatley responsible for keeping the opposition out.
Meanwhile rumours former Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond is in the frame to join Bath in some capacity refuse to go away with The Rugby Paper reporting for the second straight week he is lining up a move to the South West with Worcester Warriors also reported to be an option.
Diamond left Sale in December 2020 due to personal reasons but says he is now ready to return to a frontline coaching role.
Hooper believes Griffiths certainly has the CV and credentials to provide some expert insight at Bath. Griffiths was Saracens chief executive between 2008-2015, during which time the team reached the Premiership final four times and won two titles.
He said: “He is not just an outside pair of eyes, he is someone involved in the setting up and development of a championship-winning team.
“He has got lots of credibility throughout sport having worked with South African Rugby and then Sarries and various other jobs.
“He has seen a lot and we always value that so we look forward to hearing what he thinks of us, our people, and our systems.”
The Blue, Black and White will return to action in the Gallagher Premiership at home to Exeter Chiefs on November 26.