Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Bath agree extension of deal for Morozov
BATH Rugby have agreed a deal for the rest of the campaign with the final member of the quartet of players the club initially signed on short-term loans from Worcester Warriors.
Prop Valeriy Morozov has signed until the summer, joining flanker Ted Hill, centre Ollie Lawrence and back five forward Fergus Lee-Warner in agreeing extensions.
The loosehead originally re-joined the Blue, Black and Whites on a short-term injury cover loan for Beno Obano, who dislocated his knee cap in the opening game of the season, but that contract was ripped up almost before the ink was dry as Morozov’s parent club went into administration with their playing squad made redundant.
The new contract is Morozov’s second at the Rec after arriving in the winter last season as injury cover, making his debut in the Champions Cup against Stade Rochelais. He made a big impact in the scrum in his 13 appearances and provided a strong ball-carrying option.
Previous to his first spell with Bath and recent spell at Worcester, the Russia international earned 28 caps and won the Premiership Rugby Cup with Sale Sharks.
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “Valeriy is an excellent scrummager and is a good ballcarrying option. Since returning to Bath, he has settled in well and we are pleased to have him with us.”
Hill and Lee-Warner will make their first starts for Bath at Newcastle Falcons this afternoon.
Max Green has recovered from his ankle issue to take his place at scrum-half, and Max Ojomoh replaces Cameron Redpath who is starting for Scotland against Fiji. Tom Dunn remains as captain.
Elsewhere, with 11 players away on international duty, Gloucester head coach George Skivington has been forced to make five changes for the trip to Sale Sharks today.
All the changes come in the backline. Charlie Chapman is the only back that wears the same shirt as he wore against Exeter, starting at scrum-half with Lloyd Evans moving from full-back to ten.
Billy Twelvetrees and Jack Reeves are in the centres, while Jake Morris, Tom Seabrook and Kyle Moyle make up the back three.
The pack remains unchanged with Lewis Ludlow leading the side from the back row.
Gabriel Ibitoye, meanwhile, will make his Bristol Bears debut when league leaders Saracens visit Ashton Gate this evening.
Boss Pat Lam includes two league debutants in the backs in Academy duo Deago Bailey and Joe Jenkins.
Scrum-half Will Porter and prop Jay Tyack will also make their first starts for the club.
Bath Rugby: M Gallagher; G Hamer-Webb, O Lawrence, M Ojomoh, R McConnochie; G Worboys, M Green; V Morozov, T Dunn (capt), D Rae, F Lee-Warner, Q Roux, T Hill, M Reid, R de Carpentier. Reps: N Annett, A Cordwell, J Jonker, T Ellis, J Bayliss, T Carr-Smith, B Searle, J Joseph.
Bristol Bears: L Morahan; D Bailey, J Jenkins, S Bedlow, G Ibitoye; C Sheedy, W Porter; Y Thomas, B Byrne, J Tyack, E Holmes, J Batley, M Bradbury, J Heenan (capt), F Harding. Reps: H Thacker, J Woolmore, J Benz-Salomon, J Hawkins, D Thomas, A Uren, I Lloyd, J Bates.
Gloucester Rugby: K Moyle; T Seabrook, J Reeves, B Twelvestrees, J Morris; L Evans, C Chapman; H Elrington, S Socino, F Balmain, F Clarke, C Jordan, R Ackermann, L Ludlow (capt), B Morgan. Reps: H Walker, V Rapava-Ruskin, K Gotovtsev, A Davidson, J Reid, B Meehan, G Barton, A Hearle.