Bath keen on Lancaster return
STUART Lancaster could be set to return to top-flight rugby in England as head coach of Bath.
The Rugby Paper understands the former England supremo is the No.1 target for the Premiership strugglers ahead of a coaching revamp next summer.
England scrum guru Neal Hatley will return to the club as forwards coach following next year’s World Cup, having previously taken charge of the scrum there between 2012 and 2016, while former Rec favourite James Scaysbrook will run their defence.
Ex-Bath and Exeter flanker Scaysbrook, who cut his coaching teeth at Plymouth and Hong Kongbased Kowloon, is currently coaching England’s U20s.
Lancaster was previously a target for Bath following the dismissal of Mike Ford in 2016. However, at that time he opted to join Leinster’s backroom team instead.
Fired by the RFU in the wake of England’s 2015 World Cup failure, the 49year-old Cumbrian has rebuilt his career brilliantly by helping the Irish province to PRO14 and Champions Cup titles, developing a number of Ireland’s current Test stars.
Bath owner Bruce Craig is desperate to bring success to the club and his
dream ticket would see Lancaster team up with current general manager Stuart Hooper, who is earmarked for an overlord role and with whom Lancaster enjoys a strong relationship.
The pair previously worked together as player and coach at Leeds, and Lancaster also worked with Bath attack coach Girvan Dempsey at Leinster.
In September, Bath announced rugby director Todd Blackadder had agreed to extend his contract until 2020.
However, since then a run of just one win in ten before yesterday’s clash with Leinster means Craig may opt to sever their relationship earlier.
Assistant coaches Toby Booth and Darren Edwards have already been told their contracts will not be renewed next June as part of the coaching shake-up.