Stuart: My U20 mates helped lure me to Bath
BATH tighthead Will Stuart says the chance to be reunited with so many of England’s victorious 2016 U20s World Cup-winning squad drove his decision to quit Wasps.
Wasps’ supremo Dai Young did not hide his disappointment at losing a player who had come through the club’s academy and looked destined for big things after a breakthrough season in which he made more appearances than Kieran Brookes and Jake Cooper-Woolley. However, Stuart, 23, told
The Rugby Paper: “It was a really difficult decision because I’d been at Wasps since I was 16. I came through the ranks and last season was probably my first proper year in the first team where I played a lot of games and learnt a hell of a lot.
“But I just felt I needed a change, to try something new and there’s a really young squad of guys here, a lot of whom I played with in age group rugby at the U20s World Cup and have a strong bond, like Jack Walker, Lewis Boyce, Zach Mercer, Max Green and Darren Atkins.
“I’ve got family down this way as well and England scrum coach Neal Hatley is coming back to the club, so, with the pedigree he’s got, that’s another massive draw.
“I’ve had dealings with Hats before, going through clips and the like, so it was exciting to hear he was coming after the World Cup as I continue to work on my scrummaging. It’s a pretty exciting time to come to Bath and as a squad we’re really looking to push-on.”
While Stuart has ambitions to take the next step with England, he knows his first port of call is to see off stiff competition at Bath and make the No.3 jersey his own.
Stuart explained: “I managed to get a really good run of games at Wasps last season but it all starts again now and there’s a very good group of tightheads here.
“Henry Thomas has been here for five or six years, Sam Nixon’s a good player and Christian Judge has arrived from Saracens as a Premiership and Champions Cup winner.
“That’s not a bad pedigree and there’s Kieran Verden and Archie Griffin pushing from the academy as well, so it’s a case of finding my feet first and competing.”
He added: “The ultimate goal is to play for your country and that’s a huge aspiration of mine, but with all the change this summer my first aim is to get into Bath’s side.
“If I can do that and then play well, hopefully the rest of it will take care of itself. It’s something I really want to strive for and I’ll be giving it my very best shot.”