Heading to Paris: Olly Barkley
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Bath have confirmed that Olly Barkley will leave them to join Racing-Metro while the Rec side have brought in Brett Sharman on a short-term deal.
23-times capped England international Barkley will be available for two more games at Bath, before joining the Paris club as a medical joker.
A stalwart of not only the club but the English game, Barkley amassed over 200 appearances for Bath which made it tough for him to leave.
"Bath Rugby is in my heart and it always will be. When I no longer play the game, this will be the club I come to watch," he said.
"I will be forever a Bath boy but this, for me, was simply the opportunity of a lifetime and one I just couldn't ignore.
"I will miss the club always, and I wish all of my mates here the very best. I believe they are a special group with special coaches, and I hope they achieve everything they desire.
"I'd like to thank the club for their understanding, and also the Bath supporters who have been amazing to me in my time here."
Head coach Gary Gold added his own words of good luck to Barkley.
"Barks is a great bloke and a top player. I could not have been more impressed with both his attitude and his incredibly professional approach since I arrived at the club," he said.
"As a senior player, he could not have worked harder or been more welcoming to us as a group of coaches, but every now and then an offer lands on the table that a bloke just can't refuse. We are sorry to see him go, but he goes with our blessing. He will always be welcome here."
Bath also confirmed they have signed former Saints hooker Sharman on a short-term deal.
Comments
jamesliveinhope says...
@APV1 just watched the brief interview on the offy, the word "lifestyle" was used a few times along with the "I'm not 21 any more" and "got to look after my leg" and "too good an opportunity to miss".
I wonder whether he's been trying to get a move over there for a while - with all of the furore surrounding the relative pressures on players in the various European leagues it must be nice to move to a club with a big squad.
wish him well, not sure that Bath had a great deal of say in this decision.
Posted 14:10 22nd September 2012
kybone says...
A point which has not yet been raised, and which was the first thing that struck me, is the obvious lack of game time given to young players in France. Clubs are signing 'medical jokers' left, right, and centre. Does the thought of giving a young lad a run in the team to cover injuries not even cross the clubs mind?!
Posted 13:32 22nd September 2012
APV1 says...
@ Frooschman - any of these any good...
"Who shall we sell as injury cover, who has been covering for injuries for us?"
"Who shall we sell, that has been covering for our two crocked 10s?"
"Who has scored most points from the tee this season so far in the AP?"
"Who tried a season at a different club, albeit just up the road, and found that they couldn't settle away from Bath?"
"Who is the best 12 we've got (and best 10 at the moment)?"
"WHO THE F*CK MADE THIS DECISION?!"
@ jamesliveinhope - you're right, there has to be more to this.
TH is a great 10 and I look forward to seeing him feature for England at a more senior level too. But OB will be missed.
Posted 11:17 21st September 2012
Centre12 says...
GUARANTEED, GUARANTEED!!!!!! he will leave Bath and be one of Racing's best performers, happened to Catt when he went to Irish, happened to S.Armitage when he went to Toulon and it will happen again with Barkley.
@Frooschman, I completely agree with you on this one, who ever is in charge of Baths hiring and firing needs to be FIRED IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 03:29 21st September 2012
sirtidychris says...
Considering Bath have real limited quality at centre as it is and injury problems at fly half, this decision is baffling ?? Squad depth wins silverware and we let one of our most experienced and reliable point scorers go after 3 games (which he scored most the points !!!). Good luck Olly at Racing Metro you have been a bath hero for years, Gary Gold this better be part of a game plan freeing up salary for an international centre already pencilled in or this is going to be a long season...and the fans patience will thin.
Posted 22:10 20th September 2012
NHSaints says...
Heatcoate will do fine in his stead, Nice to see Sharman find an new club and fair enough OB...move to france to get a chance to play abroad and potentially break into a big side in the top 14.
Posted 16:13 20th September 2012
passtheball says...
Beaver the mentor hmm- that might be his future - player / coach. Not too many calls for his return at the Chiefs.
Posted 15:32 20th September 2012
jamesliveinhope says...
something of a shock - as a "medical joker" not really making any sense.
So he's leaving Bath to play as injury cover???. Feels like a desperation to leave or a desperation to be rid of him.
I half expected him to be ill at ease with the new style of play and his abandonment of his England prospects suggested him to be a man of principle but this is all very sudden. Must be more to this than meets the eye.
Posted 14:59 20th September 2012
Frooschman says...
Hey, here's an idea - why don't we sell the guy who so far this season has scored over 70% of our points? That's got to be the answer. God only knows what the f*cking question was!
I only hope we got paid out big time by Lorenzetti.
Posted 14:47 20th September 2012
APV1 says...
I'm not sure I'd use Sharman as a replacement for OB - they seem to have a different skill-set.
Shame to see OB go, but I wish him well.
Time for TH to step up, with Beaver as a mentor.
Posted 14:26 20th September 2012