Lock star Luke determined to prove his worth in boiler room
Luke Charteris says he will be his own man at new club Bath and won’t be trying to fill the boots of recently retired club captain Stuart Hooper.
Wales international Charteris and former Gloucester lock Elliott Stooke are the new components in Bath’s engine room after Hooper – who skippered Bath for a club-record five successive seasons – was forced to retire in April with a back injury. Hooper has stayed on at the club as part of a newlook coaching set-up.
“I can’t try and emulate anyone,” said Charteris, below, who has joined Bath after a four-year spell in the Top 14 with Perpignan and Racing 92.“I’ve just got to be myself.
“Hoops has had a massive role at this club for a long time and he’s still here, so that side of him hasn’t been lost.
“Stuart is still here every day bringing all those positive things. It’s on the field I’ve got to prove my worth.
“Parts of my game developed in France. Up front you play against some very big, physical packs every week and you have to adapt your game to cope with that size. I got a lot better at that, in the rucks and the driving lineouts.
“I matured as an individual as well in France and it helps your overall game. Experiences off the field have certainly helped me on the field.
“Playing in finals and in those big games in France gives you massive motivation to get back there and hopefully now I can do that with Bath.”
Charteris says the early signs from Bath’s newly-arrived coaching duo Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson are that the West Country side will play a faster game to the one that he became accustomed to in the Top 14.
“Bath’s game plan and new philosophy are more aligned to how we play internationally in Wales, so I’ll probably be a few kilos lighter throughout this season,” said 68-cap Charteris, who spent a decade with the Dragons before his spell in France.
“The coaches in France want you to be as big as you can be but at international level they want you to be slightly smaller to cope with the higher tempo running.
“Todd and Tabai are very positive guys. They have come in with an infectious attitude of working hard and improving. They are making it an enjoyable place to be and the guys have been very relaxed around them.
“They haven’t been here long but they’ve been straight in and taking sessions, probably making up for lost time.”
Bath finished ninth in the Premiership last season, prompting the club to part ways with head coach Mike Ford, but Charteris says there is no hangover from last season’s disappointment.
“No-one’s talking or dwelling on what happened last year at Bath. There’s just a strong focus on doing well in the Premiership and getting into the playoffs. The goal is definitely to win the Premiership.
“The set up here is the best I’ve seen for a club side and we’ve got to make the most of that and make sure it pays off on the field.”