Morozov is to leave club
Bath Rugby have confirmed Russian international loosehead prop Valeriy Morozov will leave the club in the summer to be reunited with Steve Diamond at Worcester Warriors.
Morozov was signed by Diamond when he was director of rugby at Sale Sharks in 2019 and he has made the mobile, ball-handling forward his sixth new signing ahead of succeeding Alan Solomons as Warriors director of rugby.
Morozov, 27, has been capped 33 times by Russia between his debut against Zimbabwe in Hong Kong in 2017 and facing Romania in the Rugby Europe Championship last month.
“I have known Valeriy from the time I had coaching Russia and he is an exceptional athlete,” said Diamond, currently Warriors’ lead rugby consultant.
“He is a very humble person with a fantastic work ethic and he will be a superb addition to our squad.”
Morozov arrived at the Rec as injury cover at the backend of the 2021 season, debuting in the Heineken Champions Cup against La Rochelle.
He has made nine appearances for the Blue, Black and White to date.
Bath head coach Neal Hatley said: “Val has been a great addition to our squad over the second half of the season.
“He’s quickly become a very popular member of the squad and with the injuries we’ve had at loosehead, he has not just helped fill a void but added value to the team with real commitment.
“We are sorry to see him go and we all wish him and his family all the very best at Worcester.”
Despite Morozov’s departure, Bath remain well-stocked at loosehead with England international Beno Obano committing to a new deal at the club, with Lewis Boyce another strong option in the number one jersey.
Morozov, whose wife is Ukrainian, played volleyball as a youngster but successfully converted to rugby with Zelenograd, his hometown club.
He had three seasons with Enisei-stm, Russia’s leading club, before he had his first taste of English rugby when Diamond signed him for Sale.
Morozov was a member of the Sale side that won the Premiership Rugby Cup two years ago and after a stint playing back in Russia for CSKA Moscow, he returned to England in December when Bath signed him for the rest of the current season to replace the injured Beno Obano.
“I enjoyed playing for Steve Diamond at Sale and I am looking forward to working with him again at Worcester Warriors,” Morozov said.
“I know how Steve works and what he expects from his players.
“I am excited to be joining the club and hope that I can help Warriors become a top six Premiership club and one who competes regularly in the Heineken Champions Cup.”