Zimbabwean-born forward Pieter Dixon is the latest name to extend his stay with Premiership side Bath in a new two-year deal.

The influential forward has made excellent progress in recent matches, enjoying over ten appearances this season and gaining praise from both English and South African pundits.

His presence on the pitch has also been a clear indication of the pressure he is putting on fellow hookers, Lee Mears and Rob Hawkins, in the challenge for the number two jersey.

"I think it is always good to create competition within a club and obviously 'Mearsy', being an international, is leading the way at the moment, but Rob and I are putting a lot of pressure on him. When Rob plays he plays really well and this season has been good for us and I have had a lot more starts, which has been awesome.

"That was one of the reasons that I wanted to stay on at Bath," he continued "because the coaches have rotated the players and I am really enjoying that. There is great feeling between us three hookers, but when it is your chance to start, you want to prove your point and try and be the number one."

Pieter joined Bath Rugby from the Investec Stormers where he had spent seven years and scored as many tries. "I joined the club for the same reasons that Borthwick is leaving. I think I just needed a change and a new challenge and one of my good mates Robbie Fleck was playing here and he only had good things to say about Bath and that was one of the main reasons for coming over here."

Fleck, alongside Dixon were key components in the decision making process of another high profile South African: "Yeah me and Butch went to school together and we knew each other pretty well and were good mates after we left, so it was good news when I heard he was coming over."

It was not just the addition of one of his school friends that has been a high point to Dixon though: "I think that this season has been the highlight of my career at Bath so far. I have started a lot more and for the first time we are actually in contention of being the leaders of the Premiership. I think this year we have a good opportunity to bring some silverware back to Bath.

"Bath has been my home for the past three years and I have made some awesome friends, they are a great bunch of guys and its great to have a settled coaching staff. We are moving from strength-to-strength and I am really looking forward to it."