"Keep spending" - Bath to sign six players after Premiership final defeat

The 20-year-old joins the Blue, Black and White from Newcastle Falcons.

The 20-year-old, former England U20s back row has agreed to join Bath Rugby for the start of the 2024/25 season initially until the summer of 2027.

Hailing from Harrogate, Pepper is a product of the Newcastle Falcons Academy having made 22 appearances for the North East club.

In his first seven appearances for Falcons, the commanding 6ft 3in back rower scored three tries in his 2022/23 breakthrough season.

Bursting onto the international scene earlier this year after playing for England A in their victory over Portugal in February, Pepper was named in Steve Borthwick’s England training squad for their Guinness Six Nations finale against France.

Pepper comes from a strong rugby family, with his father Martin being an ex-Harlequins player, and brother Max representing Great Britain in Sevens code.

He is also completing a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Durham which he will complete remotely on a part-time basis during his time at Bath.

Head of Rugby, Johann van Graan, said: "Guy is one of the most talented and exciting back rowers in the English game. His hunger to improve and develop is evident and I believe he will be a big part of our team in the years to come."

The 29-year-old lock crosses the Irish sea to join the Blue, Black and White ahead of the 2024/25 season.  

His arrival on a three-year deal will see the towering forward commence training with the club in pre-season this coming summer. 

Molony made his Leinster debut whilst still on an Academy contract with the club, aged just 19, where he was named to play against Zebre Parma in February 2015. 

Born in Dublin, the 6ft 6in lock has been with Leinster for the last decade, seeing him earn more than 175 caps for the Irish outfit and winning the Guinness Pro 14 league four times.  

A renowned line-out caller, the lock has started Leinster’s last two Champions Cup finals against La Rochelle. 

Molony went on to make his Champions Cup debut against Bath Rugby in January 2016, in which he was named Man of the Match, seeing him come full circle to join the boys in Blue, Black and White eight years later.  

Molony’s signing will bolster Head of Rugby, Johann van Graan’s options as he partners up with a strong selection of players in the second row.

On securing this latest addition for the next three seasons, van Graan said: "Ross is a true professional and his journey in rugby is a testament to this.  

"His work ethic and leadership are some of his key characteristics and I believe he will play a huge part in our journey in the next number of years. What struck me is the quality of a human being Ross is."

Joining from Leicester Tigers, the South African will arrive at Farleigh House ready for 2024/25 pre-season training.   

Standing at 6ft 2in and weighing in at almost 18 stone, the 32-year-old will bolster Johann van Graan’s options at loosehead.  

Francois boasts more than 130 Premiership appearances from his four seasons with Northampton Saints (84) and three seasons with Leicester Tigers, where he has scored four tries this campaign and brought up his 50th appearance for the club.  

Of joining the Blue, Black and White next season, van Wyk said:

"From when I first spoke to Johann, it was clear to me that I wanted to join the project at Bath. I have always enjoyed playing at The Rec and look forward to joining up with the squad for next season.” 

The loosehead prop played junior rugby for Western Province in his home city of Cape Town, before going on to play for Cape Town University side Ikey Tigers, where he played a key role in their title-winning 2011 Varsity Cup campaign.  

Van Wyk has also played in the Super Rugby league for Australian outfit Western Force.     

On adding van Wyk to his pack, van Graan said: “Francois will add to the power of our pack. He’s an experienced front row and experienced front rows are very valuable. I have been very impressed by Francois as a human being, and he will fit in very well at Bath.” 

Tuipulotu is another to make the switch from the London Irish Academy to Bath Rugby. The powerful hooker and Harrow School pupil - who discovered his love for the sport at the age of 10 - has also represented and captained England U18s, making his international debut against France before going on to tour South Africa last summer with the national side.

Tuipulotu said: “I’m still young in terms of my rugby career so whether I am pulling on the shirt of Bath Rugby or that of a representative age-group, I want to be the best that I possibly can.

“In the player meeting, Johann [van Graan] talked to us about focusing day-by-day, trying to get better and that’s my passion. My aim is just to consistently train and play as best as I can and if I can do that then it will open new doors for me in the future.”

Explosive winger Offiah, who made his England U18s debut earlier this month at the U18 Six Nations Rugby Festival in Italy, joins Bath Rugby’s Academy from the youth set-up at London Irish.

Son of rugby league great Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah, the Wellington College youngster has already shown promise in his position through his pace, power, and try-scoring ability.

Offiah said: “For me, since a young age it’s been about staying consistent and keeping that routine. On days even when I’m not at training I still work on my game, doing repetition drills such as passing off both hands and being prepared to work hard and do things that others aren’t prepared to do.

“Signing my first professional contract, making my England debut, these are things that mean so much to me and I am really happy to be where I am on my rugby journey.”

The speedy back has caught the eye of the Blue, Black and White coaches with his excellent performances for the University men’s 1st XV in the national BUCS Super Rugby league. He has also enjoyed a breakthrough at international level having made his GB Rugby 7s debut in December.

“I’m really happy and proud to sign for Bath Rugby,” said Emens, who is in the third year of a Business degree at the University.

“I didn’t really expect this opportunity. I joined the University for the academic side of things, it was the best course for me, but I obviously also knew that rugby was a big part of life here and I knew the links to Bath Rugby were there too.

“The last couple of months have been a bit of a whirlwind – signing for Bath and playing for GB7s has all come at once – but it’s good fun and I’m really glad I have these opportunities. They are what I’ve wanted and worked for.”

Of adding Emens to his squad, Head of Rugby, Johann van Graan, said: “I am really happy to welcome Austin on our journey. I have seen some real talent in Austin’s play and I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops over the next number of years.”

Emens, who was playing 3rd XV rugby two years ago, is the second University of Bath student during the BUCS Super Rugby era to earn a contract with Bath Rugby, following the signing of hooker Tom Doughty in 2018/19.