Banahan named in strong squad
Matt Banahan and Tom Biggs have been named in a strong Bath Rugby squad for tonight's JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series outing at Gloucester.
The first-team regulars will line up alongside Rugby League convert Kyle Eastmond – poised for his first competitive start in blue, black and white – and Guy Mercer, Mark McMillan, Olly Woodburn and Chris Cook.
New recruit Ollie Devoto joins fellow Bath Academy players Tom Baldwin, Richard Lane, Will Skuse and James Tyas in completing the 12-strong squad.
The action at Kingsholm kicks-off at 7.30pm, with Bath's first game against Worcester Warriors at 7.55pm.
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They will also meet West rivals Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester, with the top two on the night progressing to the series final at The Rec tomorrow week.
Biggs – a former England sevens international – said: "Sevens is a fantastic sport and, to be honest, it's a shame that you can't mix the two because I would love to still get the chance to play it from time to time.
"And that's why events like the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7's are so important.
"It's going to be an Olympic sport soon enough so it's only going to get more popular and I think that's fantastic.
"It's a great sport in its own right but the skills that it brings to the 15-man game can't be discounted either, both in terms of handling the ball but also your fitness.
"It helps in all areas of the game, really, and when I went away in 2008 to do a full year on the circuit I came back so much fitter and a better all- round player."
Scrum-half McMillan, meanwhile, will have an early chance to impress Bath's new coaching team as he bids to wrest possession of the number nine shirt from Michael Claassens.
The South African started 21 of Bath's 22 Premiership games last season.
"Mike has been the mainstay at Bath for a number of years and it's a challenge the other nines at the club relish, to try and get the jersey off him," said McMillan.
"Obviously I had some successful times at Wasps, winning a few trophies, but Bath is a huge club with a long tradition so to be able to take that number nine jersey on regular occasions would be right up there for me."
London Irish, Saracens, London Welsh and Sale Sharks have already booked their places for finals night.
Tickets for that start at £10 for adults and £5 for juniors and can be booked via the Bath Rugby Ticket Office on 0844 448 1865.
Comments
by Proud2beBath
Thursday, July 26 2012, 6:26PM
“Big shame Kyle Eastmond is injured. I just hope we see more of him this season, as I am sure he chomping at the bit!”