Guinness Premiership: Bath and London Irish sign players to new contracts
Coatzee and Johnson sign new deals with London Irish
Another two, high quality players – Danie Coetzee and Gary Johnson, have shown their confidence in London Irish by signing new contracts.
Danie Coetzee (31), the former South Africa hooker, who joined the club in 2003, has signed for another season. Second row Gary Johnson (24) has signed a three year contract that will keep him with the Exiles until the end of the 2011-12 season. Johnson is a former Academy graduate who has been at the club for seven years, the last two as a senior player.
Commenting on his decision to extend his stay, Danie Coetzee said, “I’ve enjoyed my rugby at London Irish over the past five years and look forward to contributing to realising the ambitions of our talented squad for another season.”
Gary Johnson, said, “Toby Booth recruited me into the Academy and he is now giving me the opportunity to play in one of the best teams in the country. I’ve no doubt we have a big future and I want to be part of it.”
Confirming the two re-signings, London Irish Head Coach Toby Booth said, “There is much debate about the squad sizes of the Premier Rugby clubs. Everyone knows that we are backing quality over quantity in our squad. The two players whose re-signings we’re confirming today contribute greatly to maintaining the quality of our playing staff.
“Most clubs with large squads end up with a small core of players that play regularly, all our players get game time and Danie and Gary are a key component in ensuring we continue to compete at the top level.”
Over the past month London Irish has confirmed the re-signing of eight key players: the England internationals – Paul Hodgson, Nick Kennedy and Topsy Ojo; South African international Faan Rautenbach, England A players Declan Danaher and Kieran Roche; and today’s two.
Catt and Cuthbert sign new deals with Bath
Ahead of one of the biggest and most exciting clashes Bath Rugby have faced so far this season, the timely two year signing of young players Nathan Catt and Jack Cuthbert has brought the first of some much needed good news.
Catt, who has just been named in the Saxons squad to face Portugal has earned himself a name as a player to watch having joined the Bath Rugby Academy in the 2003/04 season as an U16 back row forward from Clevedon School and Somerset County sides. Since then, he has not only been a pivotal player for the England Under 18 team that claimed the Home Unions title in 2006, but has gone on to impress in 2007 by appearing in all seven England Under 19 games. Catt’s all-round game – excellence in the loose to go with real power in the tight – mark him out as a major talent in the making.
With his future looking so bright, it is little wonder that Forwards coach Mark Bakewell was delighted at the news. “One of the biggest things about Nathan is his potential. We are working very hard to ensure that he has a long and successful career and believe he is in the best place to develop for his future.”
Catt echoed his coach’s statements saying: “As a young player I need to develop and progress and I think Bath Rugby is the ideal place to do that.
“For the next two seasons I want to get more involved in the first team squad and hopefully get a few opportunities to play some great rugby alongside them.”
Following Catt is kicking full back, Jack Cuthbert. Cuthbert also came up through the Academy set up, after joining in 2005/06 as an Under 18 outside centre. Having impressed the team management in the summer, Jack has already started six times this season.
“He is undoubtedly a player with great potential and good skill set,” said Skills and defence coach, Brad Davis. “One of his most obvious skills is his goal kicking, and that is a big facet of his game.”
It is not commonplace for a full back to take the kicking duties quite as naturally as Cuthbert has, but as he admits himself, the talent came before position selection.
“I have been kicking since early on in my career. I started at fly half and was kicking for the sticks, but playing at full back has been something progressive and my conversion was actually made here at Bath Rugby.”
So, what made him choose to continue his career at Bath? “Simply put, it was just the fact that if you know what you want and you are willing to put the effort in, Bath Rugby club sells itself.”
With two more players with such potential building their careers with Bath, it gives extra credence to the work invested in players. “In both cases,” said Steve Meehan earlier this week, “seeing the players moving from the Academy to the first team is recognition of the hard work done not only by the players, but Frank Butler and John Palmer also.”
