Worcester Warriors have recruited lock Joe Batley from Bristol Bears as their third new recruit for the 2020/21 season.
Batley, 23, joins Wasps fly-half Billy Searle and Exeter Chiefs and England back-row forward Matt Kvesic in the newcomers to Alan Solomons’ squad having signed a one-year contract with Warriors.
🔹 ✍️ 🔸
— Worcester Warriors (@WorcsWarriors) May 13, 2020
Welcome to Sixways lock @banterwithbats!
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Batley will join Warriors on July 1 and follow a well-trodden path up the M5 from Ashton Gate as Solomons has already recruited new Forwards Coach Jonathan Thomas and Scrum and Assistant Forwards Coach Mark
Mike Hall, Manager of the Three Pears Warriors Academy, was also recruited from a similar position with Bristol earlier this season.
The impending arrival of Thomas, a former Warriors captain, and Irish at Sixways was a deciding factor in persuading Batley to sign for Warriors.
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“Obviously I know Jonathan Thomas and Mark Irish really well. I have enjoyed working with them over the last three years at Bristol so the chance to continue working with them was something that really excited me,” Batley said.
“I enjoy their coaching ethos and how they want the game to be played so it will be nice to keep that going as well as being in a new environment with a new bunch of boys.
“From the conversations I have had with Solly, he’s got a very good vision about what he wants the club to achieve and I want to be part of that.”
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1. Marcus Smith, 21, England
“I have watched a lot of him. He never looks flustered on the ball, which is the hallmark of a great player and he has been in and around the England squad without yet being capped.”
2. Jordan Joseph, 19, France
“A powerful runner with good hands and a skilful offload game.”
3. Caelan Doris, 22, Ireland
“Another one off the Leinster independent schools production line (Blackrock College) and one of the standout No 8s in this season’s Champions Cup.”