Tom Heathcote has shone for Bath this season © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Tom Heathcote | Kane Palma-Newport

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Bath Rugby | England

Bath have been handed a boost with the news that two of their youngsters have committed their immediate futures to the West Country club.

Fly-half Tom Heathcote, 19, has signed a new three-year deal while prop Kane Palma-Newport, 21, has signed on for two more years. The pair have shone for Bath in the Premiership this season with Heathcote turning out 13 times for Sir Ian McGeechan's side and Palma-Newport making six appearances.

And McGeechan is pleased with the duo's renewed commitment. "We are delighted that Tom and Kane have both chosen to stay with the club," McGeechan said. "We've altered the way we operate the Academy this season, integrating the young players with the first team much earlier and by having them train with the senior squad fulltime this has had real benefits, both for the players themselves and the team.

"Both Tom and Kane are fantastic young talents, who have shown great maturity and ability already, and we are sure they will continue to do so as they develop and grow as players."

Heathcote - who has been called up to the England U20 side for the forthcoming Six Nations - added: "I'm very happy to be staying for another three years at Bath. It is a very exciting time for the club, and I want to be involved in achieving the ambitions the club has. I feel happy here, and with the coaches and players in place it is the best place for me to continue my development as a player."

Palma-Newport, who has enjoyed time on loan at Leeds this term, said: "Bath is the club I love, and I'm really looking forward to the next few years. Being a Bath lad there is no other place I'd rather be, and with the amount of talent coming through at the moment, it's a testament to the coaches who got me here."