Olly Barkley to leave Bath Rugby for Racing Metro
Olly Barkley will leave Bath Rugby for French club Racing Metro at the end of the month.
The 30-year-old is contracted at The Rec until the end of the season but will be available for two more games at Bath – at London Irish on Saturday and at home to Sale the following week - before joining the Paris club as a 'medical joker'.
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Olly Barkley
Racing have suffered an injury crisis at fly-half and swooped for Barkley ahead of the formal declaration of players for the 2012-13 Heineken Cup.
Barkley amassed over 200 appearances in two spells with Bath and won 23 England caps.
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He said: "Bath Rugby is in my heart and it always will be. When I no longer play the game, this will be the club I come to watch.
"I will be forever a Bath boy but this, for me, was simply the opportunity of a lifetime and one I just couldn't ignore. I will miss the club always and I wish all of my mates here the very best.
"I believe they are a special group with special coaches and I hope they achieve everything they desire. I'd like to thank the club for their understanding, and also the Bath supporters who have been amazing to me in my time here."
In the absence of Stephen Donald and Tom Heathcote, Barkley did not miss a kick in Bath's opening two games of the season – wins over Worcester and Wasps – and helped himself to three penalties against Northampton at The Rec on Friday night.
Head coach Gary Gold added: "Barks is a great bloke and a top player. I could not have been more impressed with both his attitude and his incredibly professional approach since I arrived at the club.
"As a senior player, he could not have worked harder or been more welcoming to us as a group of coaches, but every now and then an offer lands on the table that a bloke just can't refuse. We are sorry to see him go, but he goes with our blessing. He will always be welcome here."
Bath have also confirmed they have signed hooker Brett Sharman on a short-term loan as injury cover for Rob Webber.
Comments
by colincaos
Sunday, September 23 2012, 3:13PM
“Yes it must be depressing....it certainly is for me!
Especially when we can only score one try against London Irish, the bottom of the table team who had shipped 40 points in their last two games!”
by Bathonian1
Saturday, September 22 2012, 10:09PM
“colincaos - couldn't agree with you more. Especially after witnessing another game where (even though we lost) Barkley kept us in touch. Without him, or a similar standard replacement, I can only see a mediocre season at best. It can't be great in the dressing room watching the player who puts the most points on the board leaving - must be depressing I would imagine?”
by colincaos
Saturday, September 22 2012, 4:19PM
“Make no mistake, this is a DISASTER! We have no creativity at all now once Olly's gone! Additionally, despite all the protestations to the contrary, it's clear all is not well inside the squad to let this happen. We will soon be playing like we did under Connolly and Foley! What I want to know is, who is going to replace Olly? Vesty? OMG!”
by Bathonian1
Friday, September 21 2012, 5:25PM
“Apparently it is only myself that can't comprehend the correlation between Racing Metro and 'the chance of a life time'? If it was Munster, Toulouse or even Leicester it would kind of make sense.
So under the assumption that Donald is still injured, Heathcote is a prospect and Vesty is a part-time kicker at best who will fill his shoes? I know some people doubt the standard of his game play (not me) but the consistency with his boot it right up there with the best (like when he won us the game at Worcester). I also believe his presence lifts the players around him. In my opinion we have lost a world class player, and any team losing a world class player is naturally going to be a weaker team.
Up until I heard this news (even after the Northampton game) I was very optimistic for the season, thought we had a good chance of top 4-6. But I just feel somewhat deflated that a player inside the camp obviously feels there is nothing to be won at Bath so jumps ship.
Oh well, life goes on I suppose!”
by Proud2beBath
Thursday, September 20 2012, 6:18PM
“I agree Widcombem, it is a big shame he is going! He has been a great servant to the club and he will be missed.
He never really seemed to adjust to the post Butch era - even if Butch's parting gift was to break his leg at Glos! Didn't seem fully fit for most of last season and one of the many who seemed lost under McGeechan; but he did seem to be getting back in to things this season.
What happens when our Kiwi friend ships out at the end of the season? Heathcoate and .....?”
by PinBath
Thursday, September 20 2012, 6:01PM
“Very sorry to see Olly leave Bath Rugby, but fully understand that an offer like this is one not easy to turn down. Olly will be missed in Bath, but as a player he's given his all to Bath Rugby for most of his career and can only wish him all the very best for the future in Paris.
Hope to see him back in Bath in the future, be that on the field or in the stands as a supporter.”
by widcombem
Thursday, September 20 2012, 3:22PM
“Sorry to see Barkley go. He's been massive for the club.
However the truth is he's never truly reproduced the form he managed under Meehan. Maybe that was because then we were playing an expansive game that fitted Olly's style. Since then it's all been a tad negative.
But onwards and upwards. I'm still behind our coaches. They deserve at least two seasons to resolve the mess they inherited from McGeechan.”
by Proud2beBath
Thursday, September 20 2012, 2:35PM
“If this was in the back of his mind on Friday, perhaps this explains his performance but I cannot believe we have signed Brett Sharman as short term injury cover at hooker! The same Brett Sharman sacked by Northampton for racist remarks on Twitter?! What on earth is going on?”