Bath plan exit from ‘remote & cosy’ HQ
BATH Rugby are making plans to move out of their palatial Farleigh House base on the outskirts of the city.
The Rugby Paper understands that the club are looking at alternatives options closer to the city centre following Ed Griffiths’ review into the High Performance department.
Griffiths was originally invited in as a consultant by owner Bruce Craig after a disastrous start to the season and has since become chairman.
The South African is thought to believe that the cosy confines of the Grade II-listed Farleigh House are one of the reasons why bottom-of-the-table Bath are under-performing so drastically.
The venue is a headturner in terms of its aesthetic qualities and much investment has been put into facility since Bath
took it on. However, the gym has been criticised as too small and its remote location does not help foster the sort of squad togetherness that was once apparent when the club trained at Lambridge, off the London Road.
Lambridge hadn’t been fit for purpose for a long time, however, and the club needed to find an elite environment befitting their status as one of Europe’s leading clubs.
Farleigh House, which is hidden away in the Somerset countryside, was acquired on a 99-year lease by Bath in April 2010 and serves as the club’s administrative HQ and elite training centre.
It is thought that there will be a phased departure from Farleigh House with the playing department the first to vacate the premises once a suitable alternative site has been found.
Bath Civil Service’s sports grounds was one option mentioned to The Rugby Paper by a source.
Meanwhile, England outside centre Jonathan Joseph and loosehead Beno Obano have signed new contracts to remain at The Rec.
Joseph, 30, surpassed 150 appearances for Bath in January after making his debut in 2013.
He has been capped 54 times by England – the last coming in November 2020 – and was part of the British and Irish Lions squad for the 2017 New Zealand tour.
Joseph has featured 18 times for Bath this season, scoring one try.
“I’m very grateful to still be here after nine years,” Joseph said. “I want to be
the person that helps our younger players come through and give advice to help promote their growth, as well as impact matches with my own performances too.”
Obano, 27, has made more than 100 appearances for Bath since joining their academy in 2014, but has not featured for the club since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Harlequins in October.
Obano earned his first of three caps for England in the 2021 Six Nations against Scotland.
“This season hasn’t gone the way we as a group, and me as an individual, would have wanted but looking ahead, there is a lot to be positive about.”