Cuthbert in action for Bath during this season's Anglo-Welsh Cup © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Nathan Catt | Jack Cuthbert

Tournaments/Tours: Guinness Premiership

Teams: Bath Rugby | England

Bath have received some timely good news with rising stars Nathan Catt and Jack Cuthbert signing two-year deals with the Premiership club.

In a week overshadowed by prop Matt Stevens' admission to a major drug problem, the clubs has some good news to reflect upon ahead of their crucial Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse at The Rec this weekend.

Catt, who has just been named in the England Saxons squad to face Portugal next month, has earned himself a name as a player to watch having joined the Bath Rugby Academy in the 2003-04 season as an U16 back row forward from Clevedon School and Somerset County sides. Since then, he has not only been a pivotal player for the England Under 18 team that claimed the Home Unions title in 2006, but has gone on to impress in 2007 by appearing in all seven England Under 19 games.

Forwards coach Mark Bakewell was delighted at the news, commenting, "One of the biggest things about Nathan is his potential. We are working very hard to ensure that he has a long and successful career and believe he is in the best place to develop for his future."

Catt echoed his coach's statements saying: "As a young player I need to develop and progress and I think Bath Rugby is the ideal place to do that. For the next two seasons I want to get more involved in the first team squad and hopefully get a few opportunities to play some great rugby alongside them."

Cuthbert also came up through the Academy set up, after joining in 2005-06 as an Under 18 outside centre. Having impressed the team management in the summer he has already started six times this season.

"He is undoubtedly a player with great potential and good skill set," said Skills and defence coach, Brad Davis. "One of his most obvious skills is his goal kicking, and that is a big facet of his game."

Cuthbert admitted the talent came before position selection. "I have been kicking since early on in my career. I started at fly-half and was kicking for the sticks, but playing at fullback has been something progressive and my conversion was actually made here at Bath Rugby."

As for his decision to commit his future to Bath, he said, "Simply put, it was just the fact that if you know what you want and you are willing to put the effort in, Bath Rugby club sells itself."