Western Daily Press (Saturday)
SPENCER SIGNS ON WITH BATH
3-YEAR DEAL:
ENGLAND scrum-half Ben Spencer has agreed to join Bath Rugby – with namesake second row Will Spencer and prop forward Juan Schoeman also signing for next season.
Ben Spencer is leaving relegated Saracens after almost a decade of service to pen a three-year deal at the Recreation Ground.
The 27-year-old, pictured, told Saracens’ official website: “I’m sad to be leaving a club that’s been my life for nine years. I’ll treasure the incredible memories that I’ve made at this club for the rest of my life.”
Blue, Black & Whites director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “The club’s focus on the scrum-half position has been clear – we believe Ben will help us continue to develop our game, and the nine position that we intend to grow as an area of real strength.
“His experience and understanding of the game is impressive, and he offers something with his running game that we are really excited about. He will play a big part in the future here, and his experience will help players we already have here like Ollie Fox really progress as well as he continues to really push on with his career”
Leicester’s Will Spencer returns for a second spell at the club he left in 2016 and Schoeman arrives from the Sharks in South Africa.
In addition to the three new faces, Josh Matavesi has been handed a two-year deal having joined on temporary terms midway through the current campaign. There are also contract extensions for Max Clark, Max Green and Henry Thomas, but club captain Matt Garvey and winger Aled Brew are leaving.
PREMIERSHIP Rugby are now planning to resume the season on August 15. Top-flight fixtures – including those for Bath, Bristol Bears and Gloucester – were shelved for five weeks in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with play indefinitely suspended on April 8.
But Premiership Rugby has always outlined its intention to finish the season and the target date of August 15 was agreed at a board meeting on Thursday.
The decision was taken in the wake of both Premiership and Championship clubs this week being given provisional authorisation to begin non-contact training, with the structure of the 2019-20 season to follow in due course.
Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs said: “Nothing will happen until it is safe to do so, but we will do everything we can to resume the 2019-20 Premiership campaign on Saturday, August 15.
“We won’t take risks with people’s health, and rugby has some unique challenges due to levels of proximity and impact, but with a number of clubs moving to Stage 1, it is important for us to give players, coaches and clubs clarity on when they can look to return. Bearing that in mind, we look forward to the restart.”
There were 13 rounds of Gallagher Premiership fixtures played before the suspension and Exeter Chiefs are top of the standings, five points ahead of nearest rivals Sale Sharks.
Exeter, Northampton Saints and Saracens also have European Cup commitments, with the three Premiership sides through to the quarter-finals and the grand finale tentatively scheduled for October 17.
Summer internationals had to be scrapped due to coronavirus, with four matches of the 2020 Six Nations left to be play too.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney remains optimistic it will still be possible for England to play planned Tests against New Zealand, Tonga, Australia and Argentina this autumn, but said a number of contingency plans are being considered if travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic make that impossible.
“You would need that spirit of harmony,” he said when asked how such a clash between the club and international calendar might be resolved.
“You need that recognition that 2020 is an exceptional year and we have to find compromises.
“We want to avoid a pure conflict situation, and recognise the international game has got requirements and the club game also.”