Watson announces return to South Africa and adds to Bath's gloom

(PA)

Bath started the season with high hopes of strong performances across the tournament board, having channelled some of their new-found wealth in the direction of one of the world's great coaches, not to mention the current England captain. Yet the West Countrymen have not won a serious game of rugby since beating Sale in a Premiership match at the back end of September, despite the introduction of Sir Ian McGeechan and Lewis Moody to their mix, and yesterday they suffered another blow to the tender parts when the South African forward Luke Watson declared his intention to return home at the end of the campaign.

Watson has made a considerable impact at the Recreation Ground since arriving a little over a year ago, as much through force of personality as through a wide range of back-row skills that has marked him out as a thoroughly modern, high-calibre performer. Last season, he helped his countryman Michael Claassens rediscover some long-lost form by sharing the burden of leadership, and few people died of shock when he was awarded the captaincy on a full-time basis for this term. He will be a significant loss.

"This has been one of the most difficult decisions I've ever had to make," said the 27-year-old Springbok, who will join the Port Elizabeth-based Eastern Province team in time for next year's domestic Currie Cup competition. "I love everything about Bath and I've enjoyed my time here immensely, but I feel the opportunity to go back to my home city and play once again for my first professional club is the chance of a lifetime for myself and my family – one I can't afford to miss."

As Bath's only recent successes have been against Aironi, the Heineken Cup no-hopers from Italy, and Cardiff Blues, in an Anglo-Welsh tournament less low-profile than no-profile, they could have done without yesterday's tidings. For their part, Eastern Province were cock-a-hoop. "Our main drive is to build a team capable of being successful in Currie Cup and Super 15 rugby," commented Alan Solomons, their director of rugby. "Luke is very much a part of that vision."

Meanwhile, Sale's outside-half Charlie Hodgson is expected to miss several weeks of rugby after doctors detected a small fracture in his foot. Hodgson suffered the injury after coming off the bench for England against South Africa 10 days ago, but thought the damage was merely bruising and swelling. Now he knows otherwise, and there is every chance he will miss the start of the Six Nations in February.

The return of the Heineken Cup this weekend could be hit hard by the freezing weather: the Glasgow-Toulouse game on Friday night is very much under threat, and there are concerns over the Clermont Auvergne-Leinster, Munster-Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons-Wasps matches. Aware of the absence of wriggle-room in an overcrowded fixture list, tournament administrators are reminding all clubs of their responsibilities in identifying alternative venues.

Those same administrators gathered in the Welsh capital yesterday to announce that the final of the second-tier Amlin Challenge Cup will be staged at Cardiff City Stadium on the evening of 20 May – less than 24 hours before the Heineken Cup final is played down the road at the Millennium Stadium. With the main event virtually guaranteed to sell out, the combined gate for the two games could break the 100,000 barrier for the second year running.