​They are of similar physiques – and now new Bath Rugby wing Tom Biggs wants to have a similar impact to the one that Joe Maddock had when he was at the club.

The diminutive Maddock, for so long a crowd favourite at Bath with his jinking steps and fiendish bursts of pace, left The Rec at the end of last season. Biggs, who joined Bath over the summer from Newcastle Falcons, concedes he has a tough job in filling the right wing’s boots – but is revelling in the pressure.

“There’s pressure on everyone in sport and I think that’s why we play it – because we love the pressure. And I’m no different,” he said.

“There is pressure on me to score tries. Joe was a fantastic player for Bath and a crowd favourite, and that’s something I want to be.”

The 26-year-old, who prior to his move to Bath had played his entire professional career in the north, has had a smooth transition to the south west.

Except for one pre-season bump.

The 12st 4lb, 5ft 11in Biggs was running at full pelt when he ran blind into the path of the 16st 4lb, 6ft 6in Scott Hobson – who was also running at full pelt. The results were not pretty. Biggs was left concussed and bruised and the rest of the Bath squad shaken by the sickening collision they had witnessed.

But Biggs, who has played for both England 7s and England Saxons, can laugh about it now.

“I was in a bit of a bad way for a few days but thankfully it was early on in the pre-season, so I didn’t miss any matches,” he smiles, faintly.

Biggs featured in all of Bath’s warm-up games and has been encouraged at how quickly he got to grips with his new club’s tactics.

“After three pre-season games I feel quite comfortable with the systems that Bath play, so it’s not been too difficult settling in.”

Indeed, it must be something of a relief for Biggs to join a club like Bath, who operate such an expansive gameplan.

Newcastle showed little imagination or cutting edge in their back division last season, but Biggs should have altogether better service from the likes of Butch James, Olly Barkley and Sam Vesty.

Biggs has penned a three-year deal with Bath – a contract that will keep him in the West Country until at least 2013. And he is determined to repay Bath for the offer.

“The club showed great commitment to me,” he said. “They’re fully committed to me and I’m fully committed to them.”

The 26-year-old began his professional career at Leeds – a club he will return to on Sunday when Bath kick-off their Aviva Premiership campaign at Headingley.

Despite having won two National League One titles with Leeds and a Powergen Cup winners’ medal, Biggs – who was born in Yorkshire – says he will treat the match like any other.

“Playing Leeds is quite a strange game for me,” he explained. “I went back there last season for my first game with Newcastle too.

“It felt like any other game last year, not really any emotion attached to it. I don’t think it will be any different this time. I’m excited because it’s my first season at Bath – that’s what’s important to me.”

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