Former England boss Andy Robinson takes Premiership coaching role

With 249 Bath Rugby appearances to his name, and returning to the club 25 years after leading Bath to European victory, Robinson has been appointed the club's new Head Academy Coach.

He will head up Bath Rugby's Premiership Rugby Cup fixtures in the early stages of the competition, lending his international-level experience to Head of Academy, Craig Lilley, to bring out the young players' full potential.

The former Bath Rugby Head Coach will also play a part in van Graan's senior coaching team as Contact Coach. Robinson assisted Bath Rugby in the latter part of the 2022/23 season as a consultant, where the team finished eighth in the Premiership table and secured their place in the Champions Cup.

Of his appointment, Robinson said: "I'm glad to be back at Bath and I'm looking forward to making a change on the pitch. There's a great group of players here and I'm excited to see what I can achieve with the team."

"Robinson brings with him a wealth of knowledge from his time on the international stage assisting in England's 2003 World Cup victory, as well as being Head Coach of Scotland and Romania."

Acknowledging Robinson's connection with Bath, van Graan said: "I'm excited to have Andy with us and I couldn't think of a better man to coach here at Bath."

"Andy has achieved a tremendous amount in both his playing and coaching career and is a well-known face in the city. It'll be great for all of us here to have someone so deeply connected to Bath's professional rugby history."

"The club can also confirm that Stevie Scott has joined the Blue, Black and White ahead of the 2023/24 season as the new Scrum Coach."

Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales) - "Not a staggeringly original choice, I’ll admit. But to my mind the only one. If I’m going to be picking a dream XV over the next few days then I want JPR at the back. No question."

Left-wing: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) - "Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby."

Right-wing: John Kirwan (New Zealand) - "He had an all round game; he could carry the ball through heavy traffic, he could offload, he was like an extra back-rower at times. Plus, he had natural effortless pace. He ended up scoring 35 tries for the All Blacks and was instrumental as they went through their unbeaten spell of games between 1987 and 1990."

Outside-centre: Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland) - "His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent."

Inside-centre: Philippe Sella (France) - "Sella and O’Driscoll were powerful men. They could stop a forward in his tracks. I think as a pair they would dominate any midfield and I like the thought of them together."

Fly-half: Dan Carter (New Zealand) - McGeechan wrote that Carter “really was the complete 10. His defence was immaculate, he could break himself, he could bring others in to play, his kicking from hand and from tee was incredibly accurate. He also changed the way the game was played with his kicking from his own 22m and his kicking to compete. The greatest of the modern era in my opinion.’’

Scrum-half: Gareth Edwards (Wales) - My favourite scrum-half of all time happens to be my favourite player of all time. Gareth Edwards was and always will be the master. The Greatest.’’

Loosehead-prop: Tom Smith (Scotland) - "I just don’t think he gets anywhere near the credit he deserves. Six consecutive Lions Tests in 1997 and 2001, a talismanic figure in Scotland’s 1999 Five Nations win, a major reason Scotland were competitive at the 2003 World Cup."

Hooker: Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand) - "He was outstanding, not just as a player but as a captain, and as a man.  His consistency was unbelievable in an international career that spanned 12 years: 92 Test appearances, including a world record 63 consecutive Test matches and 51 as captain. "

Tighthead-prop: Jason Leonard (England) - " He played both sides of the scrum but he was more of a tighthead. Completely unflappable, Jason was never in any trouble. Technically, he was superb and temperamentally he was sound, a huge character on and off the pitch."

Lock: Martin Johnson (England) - " I think he defined an era, both for forward play and for the performances of the teams he represented."

Lock: John Eales (Australia) - "A two-time Rugby World Cup-winner with the Wallabies in 1991 and 1999, captaining his side to victory over France in the second of those finals. A lot of the ‘number fives’ that have followed him play the way they do because of the type of game Eales set."

Blindside-flanker: Richard Hill (England) - "One of the easier selections, if I’m honest. Hill seemed to know almost instinctively where to be and when."

Openside-flanker: Richie McCaw (New Zealand) - Having picked Richard Hill at blindside, the thought of pairing him with Richie McCaw at openside genuinely excites me. Can you imagine those two together? The opposition would not stand a chance. 

Number 8: Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand) - "One of the toughest choices of the lot. Maybe the toughest. His ability to bring others into the game, his ability to stay connected in the game himself, popping up repeatedly through different phases; all exemplary. And he dropped goals of course. A true original."