London Irish have lost yet another key player to a different club with news that England centre Jonathan Joseph is to join Bath.
Widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in English rugby, Joseph will arrive at the Rec at the end of the season where he will be reunited with former Exiles director of rugby Toby Booth.
Booth left London Irish to join Bath's coaching team last year and he was pivotal in Joseph's development at the Madejski.
"I've loved my time with London Irish, but feel it's time to make a move and Bath is an extremely exciting prospect," said Joseph.
"I've loved my time with London Irish, but feel it's time to make a move and Bath is an extremely exciting prospect."
"You can see what the coaches are looking to build there in terms of culture, they already have a really talented squad and I hope I can add something to that. Obviously I'm still developing as a player and I feel that Bath will give me a fantastic environment in which to do that."
The news of Joseph's departure is a major blow for London Irish, who have seen several of their big names depart in the last few years.
England prop Alex Corbisiero also leaving for Northampton and Steve Shingler is returning to the Scarlets.
"Jonathan is young, English and hugely talented. He is exactly the sort of player we want, and we are confident that he will indeed bring something special to the team," said Bath head coach Gary Gold.
"That he has chosen Bath as his club says a huge amount about the environment we are establishing here. We can't wait for him to join the club."
Comments
melkdave says...
Have to say Bath are gathering a very good squad for next season,bags of potential in all areas except SH,which must be a prioity signing now.
Posted 23:28 20th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Think he would get better chance to express himself at Exiles. Next season if they can get directors who all care about the future of the club Irish will be back firing on all cylinders. Maybe one or two seasons to wait.
Posted 21:16 20th March 2013
NHsaints says...
Wow, Bath really are moving back towards being a power in English rugby, this is definitely a signing in the right direction...now who will pay the price and drop from the regular top 4'ers? Northampton is my guess unfortunately but we'll see, they've still got to overtake Wasps as the resurgent club in the premiership...
Posted 20:01 20th March 2013
sirtidychris says...
Very good however bar banahan am worried about the size of our back line with ford, eastmond, joseph and biggs all small...verging on midgets with a ford, eastmond channel being very vulnerable. That said the backline will be full of precocious talent and the pack is really coming together now, this would be my team for next year
1)James
2)Webber
3)Wilson
4)Attwood
5)Day/Caldwell
6)Fearns
7)Louw
8) Koster/Houston
9- Ford (scandalous i know !)
10- mcHeathcote
11- Agulla
12- Eastmond
13- Joseph
14- Biggs
15- Bendy
Still hoping we will sign toby faletau and a good scrum half like mike phillips/joe simpson/ben spencer
Posted 16:16 20th March 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
great news, links with Faletau and Ford and we are staring to look like a force.
@centre12, Claasens is definitely off whilst I'm pretty sure that Stringer is out of contract with everyone this season end. I suspect that, given he's keepijgt Claasens on the bench at the moment, he may be reatined once the contractual complications with Munster are out of the way.
Posted 16:03 20th March 2013
twhv says...
Centre 12 - Claassens is definitely off. And doubtful we'll keep Stringer beyond the end of the season. Suspect we'll have two new scrum halves come in with McMillan likely to go too. It's got to be a priority position for recruitment given we've signed a number of new forwards (Guinazu, Houston, Orlandi - plus Gilbert and Koster already in this season) and the rest of the backline now looks complete. Bear in mind Agulla in the above too, who has looked excellent when given the chance to show what he can.
Signing JJ is v good news though. Hopefully an indication of a new and improved policy (rather than just signing Tigers cast-offs).
Posted 15:24 20th March 2013
Centre12 says...
So next seasons backline is looking like
9- Stringer/Classens
10- Ford/Heathcoat
11- Banahan
12- Eastmond
13- Joseph
14- Biggs
15- Bendy
Wow if our forwards win some decent ball here should be some electric rugby, pace galore!!!!!!!
Posted 14:43 20th March 2013
Frooschman says...
Woohoo!!!
Posted 13:20 20th March 2013