Bath Rugby have announced that England scrum coach Neal Hatley will join the Premiership club next season.
He will take up the position of forwards and defence coach following the conclusion of England’s Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan later this year. The 49-year-old will return to the west country club where he spent four years as a first-team coach.
Hatley was appointed by England as scrum coach of the national men’s side in April 2016. He has been part of the coaching set up for the last 35 Test matches in which England have won 26, lost eight and drawn one. The highlights include away Test series wins in Australia (2016) and Argentina (2017) as well as a Six Nations title (2017).
England scrum coach Neal Hatley will re-join @bathrugby after #RWC2019.
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) May 7, 2019
Full story ➡ https://t.co/VI2lHJ40IF pic.twitter.com/jy6Vb0ZhyQ
Under the tutelage of Hatley, a number of front rowers have made their national team debuts and then gone on to be regular Test match players for England including Alec Hepburn, Ben Moon, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler and Harry Williams.
Eddie Jones, England men’s head coach said: “Neal has been a great national coach for us since he joined in 2016 and has continued to develop as an excellent young English scrum coach.
“He goes with our blessing to join Bath Rugby following the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year and he will be a big asset for the club going forward. But in the meantime he has an important job to do alongside the other national coaches to ensure England are the best prepared team in the World Cup.”