Attack coach Girvan Dempsey to leave Bath at end of season

Bath Rugby have announced that attack and backs coach Girvan Dempsey will be leaving the club at the end of the ongoing season.

Dempsey joined Bath Rugby in 2018 under then director of rugby Todd Blackadder after a successful stint with Leinster. In his first two seasons, Bath finished at sixth and fourth in the Premiership table and in the ongoing season they are positioned ninth with eight victories from 19 matches.

“Bath is a very special place and I’ve really enjoyed my time at Bath Rugby," he told the club's official website.

"I’d like to thank Stuart (Hooper), all the players and staff for the warm welcome they afforded me and my family. I also want to thank our brilliant supporters, who we have sadly missed down at the Rec.

"I leave having forged many great friendships and with a lot of happy memories. I’m really looking forward to a new chapter and I wish everyone at Bath Rugby every success for the future.”

Dempsey will be replaced next season by David Williams, who will rejoin the club after working as Academy Coach between 2012 and 2014 and has worked with Sharks, Cheetahs, Southern Kings and Kobelco Steelers.

“We want to accelerate the growth of our attacking game. We need to make a shift in terms of being clinical in attack, developing our play with ball in hand, playing into space and really challenging the opposition," said director of rugby Stuart Hooper.

"It is an exciting shift and one that David will add too. I am incredibly pleased to be able to welcome David who we believe will contribute enormously to our environment and to the evolution of our game.

“David is well regarded in his field for his coaching ability and his work with The Sharks attack is clear to see. David has a fascination with the detail of a game and a training week, this, alongside his tactical nous and his ability to engage players really set him apart during the interview process."