Bath Coaches Pen new Deals

Bath have announced contract extensions for their coaching team of Mike Ford, Toby Booth and Neal Hatley.

And the Aviva Premiership club have also confirmed that former Newport Gwent Dragons boss Darren Edwards will join the coaching staff, focusing on individual skills programmes.

Edwards, a former scrum-half, has also worked as head coach of the Wales Under-20 squad.

Ford, Booth and Hatley, meanwhile, have committed their futures at the Recreation Ground until at least 2016, extending existing deals by a year.

Bath narrowly missed out on the Premiership play-offs last term, while they were beaten Amlin Challenge Cup finalists, losing to Northampton at Cardiff Arms Park.

" We made huge progress as a squad last season, but only really scratched the surface of what this group of players can do," former England defence specialist Ford said.

"Toby, Neal and I are all very excited to continue shaping the future of this great club.

"We want to build a team culture on and off the field that will create success, and we have definitely made great inroads into that."

Edwards, meanwhile, added: " I can't wait to get started at Bath.

"They have a fantastic and dynamic young squad who have masses of potential to build on.

"It is a really exciting time to be joining the club, and I'm looking forward to helping them reach the ambitions they have over the coming seasons."