Cowan pens an Academy deal at Bath

BATH Rugby have signed back row trialist Tom Cowan into the club’s senior academy on a twoyear contract in the same week that they completed a deal for first-team squad member Richard De Carpentier, writes John Evely.

Former England Sevens man De Carpentier, who plays in the back row in the 15-a-side version of the game, has signed until the end of the season.

Cowan, meanwhile, rejoins the club after an impressive preseason, which ended in gametime in the pre-season defeat to Cardiff Rugby.

The youngster was part of the Bath Rugby Developing Player Programme as a 13-year-old and came all the way through the pathway into the Under-18s, after which he parted company with the Blue, Black & Whites to head to Loughborough University, where he would combine his Chemical Engineering degree with National League rugby and the BUCS League.

However, Bath Academy boss Craig Lilley remained in contact with the England and Walesqualified flanker and brought him back into the club this summer.

Cowan has now signed a dualregistration deal with Loughborough University, which will allow him to continue his studies, but also be available to Bath Rugby throughout the season.

Lilley said: “We’re delighted to bring Tom back to the club. The contract is a massive reward for his efforts over the past couple of years and how he has excelled in the senior environment in preseason.

“He is a physical and athletic player who works hard on both sides of the ball and he is extremely diligent with how he studies the game and likewise his University course.

“We are excited by the potential Tom has and we looking forward to seeing how he develops over the next couple of years.”

Meanwhile, the Blue, Black & Whites have confirmed winger Kofi Barton-Byfield has left the Senior Academy.

The wing signed a scholarship deal in the summer and graduated from the Under-18s having been on the club’s development pathway since the age of 13. But his studies will now take him out of the club’s programme with the University of Bath.

Lilley said: “Unfortunately, Kofi didn’t achieve the grades to get on the course he wanted to. The right course for Kofi wasn’t at the University of Bath, so we made a mutual decision that he would study elsewhere.”