Bath Rugby
Bath confirm RFU approach for Neal Hatley
Tom Hamilton
April 25, 2016
© (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Bath's Mike Ford has confirmed the Rugby Football Union has made an approach for their coach Neal Hatley.

Hatley, who looks after Bath's defence and forwards, has been lined up as England's new scrum guru, a role that Ian Peel filled on a temporary basis during the Six Nations. Hatley still has three years left on his Bath deal but Ford will not stand in his way if he wants to join Eddie Jones' setup.

"There's nothing sorted, they've just approached us. I'm pleased for Hats," Ford said in the Bath Chronicle after their win over Sale at the weekend. "Obviously, he's been recognised for his work here over the last three or four years.

"Just like a player playing international rugby, he has ambitions as well. He's a fantastic coach. The players love him, they really do.

"Scrummaging is his forte, but he's done the defence for us this year and the contact area as well. It would be a big loss for us if he left, but an opportunity for me to have a look at our coaching set-up and the roles and responsibilities in that.

"With every door that shuts, another one opens."

Bath forward David Denton added that Hatley would be a "massive loss for Bath" but added the potential job offer from the RFU is a "massive compliment to him as a coach and a person".

© Tom Hamilton

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