Bath add rising star Barbeary to squad

BATH Rugby have confirmed the signing of English rugby’s rising star Alfie Barbeary in another stunning addition to Johann van Graan’s squad.

Bath have beaten a number of rivals both in the Premiership and from the French Top 14 to the dynamic number eight’s signature and he now joins former Worcester Warriors stars Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence in signing a longterm deal at the Rec.

Barbeary, 22, inset, was among the 167 Wasps players, coaches and staff to be made redundant last month when the club entered into administration following their failure to repay debts, that news came just weeks after Worcester Warriors suffered the same fate. The backrower’s move to Bath was confirmed at half time of the Premiership’s side’s friendly game against the Barbarians which ironically was being played to fill a hole in the fixtures left by Worcester’s collapse.

In addition to England internationals Lawrence and Hill, Bath have also signed another quartet of former Worcester players on varying length contracts in the shape of Fergus Lee-Warner, Valeriy Morozov, Jamie Shillcock and Billy Searle.

Barbeary, who stands at 6ft 1in and weighs in at 116kg, has represented England at U18s, U19s and U20s and senior head coach Eddie Jones is an admirer of the former Wasps man’s talents, pulling him into multiple training camps over the past three years without awarding him a debut cap - yet.

The number eight, who has moved into the backrow having started out as a hooker, is currently injured having damaged his hamstring in the second game of the season against Bristol Bears.