Thacker loved his BaaBaas experience
World XV by Charles Piutau, starred to win the match of the match award.
The World XV crossed the line through Sebastian Negri, Sbu Nkosi (2), Api Ratuniyarawa, Israel Folau and Bryn Hall.
Shedding further light on the experience, Thacker said: “We have probably spent 40 minutes training all week and some of the stuff on show is just natural talent – it is not prescribed. It is about looking at what is in front of you.
“It is a breath of fresh air, no regrets, everything is on and it is just about freedom and it is hard to get rugby like that in the league.
“It reminds of what it is like to play club rugby again. That love. It has reinvigorated me and given me that love of the game again.”
Thacker’s form this season and over the last couple of years should really have the uncapped hooker on England head Steve Borthwick’s radar as he is set to name his first Rugby World Cup training squad in the coming weeks, but the Bears front-rower insists he has had no communication indicating he will involved.
He said: “I have had nothing and, to be honest, a lot of hookers have had good seasons. I am not expecting anything.”
While Thacker is right about the form of his fellow English hookers, with Exeter Chiefs star Luke CowanDickie set to miss the tournament with a nerve issue in his neck, there does appear to be an opening for a hooker to force their way in join
Saracens’ Jamie George in the Red Rose ranks.
Bath Rugby’s Tom Dunn and Gloucester Rugby number two George McGuigan are two men who will be fighting for that opportunity, but Thacker has arguably had a better individual season than both West Country men.
The jury is still out on whether Borthwick recognises the Bristol man’s rare set of talents and whether he will be back at Twickenham in August to showcase his skills in one of England’s four warm-up games this summer before flying out to France.
Departing Bath Rugby forward Tom Doughty is set to join secondtier side Doncaster Knights ahead of the 2023/24 season, according to the latest reports.
Hooker Doughty left Bath this summer after making 24 senior appearances in Blue, Black and White, having signed for the club after impressing in the BUCS League for the University of Bath.
Doughty made his Bath debut against Newcastle Falcons in 2018 and the 26-year-old made his bow in the Premiership at home to Sale Sharks in 2021 before going on to feature in Europe for the club. But with Tom Dunn and Niall Annett dominating the minutes in the number two jersey this season Doughty was told his services were no longer required at the Rec.
The Rugby Paper report Doughty will be joined at Doncaster next season by former Bath scrum-half Ollie Fox and ex-Bristol Bears tighthead prop Lewis Thiede.