Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Thomas excited to start new chapter
BATH Rugby have confirmed that tighthead prop Henry Thomas will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.
Twenty-nine-year-old Thomas becomes the seventh player to be confirmed as leaving the Rec at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
The seven-cap England front rower’s future destination has not been officially revealed, but it is expected to be French Top 14 heavyweight La Rochelle.
Thomas said: “I’m immensely proud to have played over 100 games for the club I supported as a kid. I went and watched with my dad, I was a mascot in 1998 and it makes me proud to have been here that long and to have been a part of so many talented squads.
“After seven years, I think it was time for a change and I’m really excited for the next chapter.”
Rugby director Stuart Hooper added: “To play over 100 games for Bath shows Henry’s dedication to the game. He has played in one of the toughest positions and been a huge part of the Blue, Black & Whites over the past seven years. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Thomas is just the latest in a number of departures from Bath. Fly-half Rhys Priestland is joining Cardiff Blues on a two-year deal, with Danny Cipriani coming in, while scrum-half Will Chudley is moving to Worcester Warriors.
The Sixways club have also landed tighthead prop Christian
the league from the get-go this season, and we are aware that it will be a challenge for us on Saturday.”
Leicester scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will become the first player to reach 300 Premiership appearances if he features off the bench. Borthwick added: “To make 300 appearances in a competition like the Premiership is an incredible achievement.
“Richard has reached this feat through his determination and hunger to want to be the very best he can be, and the high standards he sets himself as a professional player.”
Bristol make seven changes for the round 21 encounter, with Harry Randall returning for his first Premiership start since January.
Steven Luatua also returns to the line-up, while Bristol include Dan Thomas alongside the skipper in the back row.
Siale Piutau comes into midfield, with Piers O’Conor switching to the wing, while Henry Purdy is named in the back three. Yann Thomas and Will Capon start in the front row as Bristol look to bounce back from defeat last week’s defeat to Sale.
Bristol Bears: M Malins; P O’Conor, S Radradra, S Piutau, H Purdy; C Sheedy, H Randall; Y Thomas, W Capon, K Sinckler, D Attwood, C Vui, S Luatua (capt), D Thomas, N Hughes. Replacements: J Kerr, J Woolmore, J Afoa, J Joyce, B Earl, A Uren, I Lloyd, A Leiua.
■ Wasps visit London Irish and Newcastle Falcons host Worcester Warriors today, while tomorrow’s Premiership action takes champions Exeter Chiefs to Northampton Saints.
The Chiefs are firmly on course to secure a home play-off tie, which is a key objective for them.
“We’ve been in five semi-finals now, all of which have been at home, and we want to keep that run going, especially now that we can get crowds back in,” Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said.
“At this time of the season, we talk about challenging the guys about how they perform, what levels they can hit physically and how much they want to do things for one another.
“What I saw against Newcastle last weekend (Exeter won 74-3), I think underlined all of those qualities.”
Exeter this week announced the signing of Irish centre Sean O’Brien for the 2021-22 season.
Twenty-three-year-old Under-20 international O’Brien joins the Chiefs from Galway-based Pro14 side Connacht.