Bath back their local 'academy'

Chris Hewett looks at rugby's present tensions and has a glimpse of the future

Bath, the English champions whose reputation as ultimate professionals failed to survive the onset of professionalism itself, were yesterday back in the realm of irony once again. Twenty-four hours after cold-shouldering their hugely expensive Argentinian imports, Federico Mendez and German Llanes, for today's Courage league match with London Irish, they unveiled a scheme designed to tap a stream of home-grown talent.

Following hard on the heels of their First Division rivals Saracens and Harlequins, both of whom have struck up partnerships with local schools in recent months, Bath strengthened its links with Colston's Collegiate School in Bristol, probably the most accomplished rugby academy in the country. The club has pledged to cough up 50 per cent of the fees for gifted youngsters in return for first call on their loyalty at school leaving age.

The sharpest irony of all is that the three greatest players ever to lace up their boots at the Recreation Ground - Jeremy Guscott, John Hall and Stuart Barnes - were all educated at state schools. Tony Swift, the Bath chief executive, said the club would act quickly to allay the fears of other rugby-playing schools that the Colston's link would undermine their own efforts. "We'll be talking to head teachers and assuring them that we will do everything we can to support them," he confirmed.

With Mendez relegated to the bench and Llanes struggling for match fitness, Bath go in against the Exiles with Graham Dawe at hooker and the old firm of Martin Haag and Nigel Redman at lock. Richard Webster and the player-coach, Andy Robinson, in the back row should give them a hard enough edge to dispense with their relegation-haunted visitors, who give Niall Hogan, once Ireland's captain, a debut at scrum-half.

Quins travel to Orrell without the services of the rested Will Carling, whose midfield place goes to Jason Keyter. West Hartlepool also make a lengthy trip to title-chasing Leicester and are bolstered by the return of Kevin Moseley to their pack.

However, the most significant action of the weekend is likely to occur tomorrow. Wasps, the leaders, take on Gloucester at Loftus Road and even though the Londoners hope to field their new capture, Scotland's Kenny Logan, on the wing, they will be wary of the West Country threat at scrum and line-out. David Sims and company blew the Wasps tight five away at Kingsholm earlier in the season and as they fancy their own chances of qualifying for next season's Heineken Cup, there could be fireworks once again.

Despite smarting from their comprehensive defeat at Leicester on Tuesday night, Sale are hot favourites to enhance their own European aspirations with a second victory over Northampton in the space of a fortnight. Saracens, though, will not be quite so confident of seeing off Bristol, who are clinging to a slim hope of avoiding the end of season play-offs.

While the leading English clubs have protected their own interests by securing a 12-team First Division for next season, their counterparts in Wales are in the throes of turmoil following the WRU's decision to forge ahead with an eight-team premiership. The move means four clubs - in all probability Treorchy, Dunvant, Caerphilly and Newbridge - will be relegated in May and no promotion for the Second Division pace-setters, Llandovery and Cross Keys.

Treorchy have already threatened the Welsh union with legal action but the traditional big guns of the Welsh game are in favour of the streamlining, which will bring them an increased share of broadcasting money. The move will be debated at a Special General Meeting on 6 April.