Bath discussing provisional deal for Louw games
■ from Back page Louw only ended up playing eight league matches for Bath last season due to internationals and injuries. It appears South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus is building a healthy and collaborative relationship with the numerous overseas clubs who have Springbok internationals in their ranks, including Bath. Wasps have come to an agreement for full-back Willie Le Roux to play the first three Rugby Championship matches, then play three Premiership matches before possibly playing one more for the Boks. Sale Sharks appear to have come to an agreement over Faf de Klerk’s availability and Bath have provisionally done the same. “I think we’re going to be working with South Africa,” Blackadder said. “It’s just going to be a gameby-game basis. “Initially, it’s about Francois just playing the first four games for South Africa and then being back, but we’ll just have to wait and see.” Back-row injuries or South Africa being in the running for the Rugby Championship title could scupper Bath’s hopes of having the key forward back from some big Premiership games. But, for once, there is a a real possibility Louw will be seen in the new Bath kits in the opening six weeks of the season. Coach seats to ferry Bath Rugby fans to the derby clash with Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate are available from Acorn Sports Tours. Fans interested in travelling with the company, run by former Blue, Black and Whites player Chris Perry, for the game on Friday, August 31 should contact Chris on 01225 444789.
Bath Rugby fans are used to having Francois Louw unavailable at the start of the Premiership season, but this time they might see a lot more of him in club colours. Since coming to the Rec in 2011, the Tri Nations and Rugby Championship which replaced it have usually been on the openside’s agenda at the end of the summer. Last year, the 33-year-old wasn’t initially selected by South Africa, following shoulder surgery. Instead he was on standby and, after playing for Bath against Leicester Tigers, Saracens and Newcastle Falcons, he was called up. This year, it was assumed Louw would miss the first six rounds of the Gallagher Premiership on international duty but tyhe Bath Chronicle can reveal that might not be the case. Louw could be available to face Bristol away on August 31, Saracens away on September 29 and Exeter Chiefs at home on October 5. The Rugby Championship finishes on October 6. Louw played for the Boks in their opening 34-21 win at home to Argentina on Saturday and is expected to be picked to face the Pumas in Mendoza on Saturday night. The following weekend there are no Rugby Championship games and, as that is not an international Test window, Todd Blackadder is considering picking him for the West Country derby at Ashton Gate. “It’s looking like he’ll be away for the first two games and could be back for Bristol, but we’re not too sure yet,” said the director of rugby.