England Sevens star seals Rec deal

Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper says new arrival can play key role in campaign

BATH Rugby have confirmed former England Sevens star Richard de Carpentier has been signed until the end of the season having joined the Premiership club on trial this summer.

De Carpentier, 31, has had spells at Leicester Tigers, Harlequins and Worcester Warriors as a flanker. However, he has spent the bulk of his career playing as a prop on the sevens circuit.

He has been training with the Blue, Black and White squad at Farleigh House this summer in the build-up to the 2021/22 season.

De Carpentier, pictured, was named RPA England Sevens Player of the Year in 2017 and was picked in England’s squad for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens. He went on to feature in 43 sevens tournaments and 200 matches for the national side.

Having successfully converted Sevens stars Ruaridh McConnochie and Will Muir into first team regulars on the wing at Bath, director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “Richard de Carpentier’s impressed sufficiently, he’s done really well and I’m going to keep him until the end of the season.

“He’s been outstanding. He obviously has Premiership experience, he’s got experience on the sevens circuit and I like guys who’ve been on that circuit and work their way through - they always work hard and are competitive.”

De Carpentier stood out in Bath’s only pre-season game against Cardiff Rugby, scoring a try in the defeat at Cardiff Arms Park but Hooper said it is his impact in training that had earned him a contract.

Hooper confirmed the main reason de Carpentier has been signed was to provide him with options during the Autumn internationals and Six Nations when the likes of Sam Underhill (England), Josh Bayliss (Scotland) and Taulupe Faletau (Wales) will likely be away with their respective national sides.

Hooper said: “Rich is someone who is going to be big during those periods.”