Skipper Luke Watson has told the

Chronicle

that leaving Bath Rugby to return to South Africa is "the most difficult decision I've ever had to make",

writes Tom Bradshaw

.

The effervescent loose forward, who has played 29 times since arriving at The Rec last November, turned the offer of a Bath contract extension down to sign a three-year deal with Eastern Province Kings in his home town of Port Elizabeth.

At the start of November, Watson and his pregnant wife were house hunting in Bath as they prepared to settle in the city for the medium- term.

But then the offer from second division Eastern Province came and that suddenly fired Watson's imagination.

The club has the ambition of becoming a top-flight southern hemisphere side by 2013, and Watson wants to realise that dream.

"I went to school in Port Elizabeth and played for the local side and if they'd had a top-flight rugby side I would have probably never left," he explained. "It's amazing how ten years later I have the opportunity to create that platform for other young players who are coming through in the area and who would like to represent their province and their city.

"I asked myself, 'In a couple of years' time, are you going to regret not jumping into this?'

"There is nowhere else in the world I would have gone other than the Eastern Cape. I wouldn't have gone anywhere else in Europe, no matter who was interested.

"Prior to a month ago I was 100 per cent committed to Bath and was going to stay. My wife and I were looking for property in Bath. This was where we were settling. But the idea popped up and a freakish series of events occurred.

"People who I really look up to from opposite ends of the world phoned up and we chatted and they said, 'Luke, for you this is more than just rugby. You've always been someone who wanted more than just 80 minutes of rugby'.

"And I look at it as impacting on a community, uplifting a community and starting something that's going to be a massive challenge.

"It's a step back in rugby terms, in spotlight terms and career terms but I'm willing to take that risk because the opportunity is also very great."

Watson added: "It was the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my life.

"This has been a year-and-a-half of the most enjoyable rugby. There is not a single deterrent about Bath.

"I'm excited to be going home, but very emotional and sad about leaving, so I'm glad I've got six months to throw my heart and soul into the Bath jersey."

Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld admits to having been left a little glum by Watson's decision.

But Bath have wasted no time in lining up a replacement for Watson, with speculation rife that Tom Croft is interested in a move to The Rec.

"Luke's decision was unexpected," said Blofeld. "It caught us slightly off-guard because I was confident he would stay. It wasn't a good start to the week to take that call at 8 in the morning.

"We have already drawn up a short-list of back-rowers to replace him. We will be looking in England and beyond."