Semesa Rokoduguni extends Bath contract

Wing Semesa Rokoduguni is to extend his stay at Bath.

The Aviva Premiership club said Rokoduguni would remain with them for at least another two years.

The 28-year-old won his solitary England cap against New Zealand in 2014 and he recently missed out on a place in new head coach Eddie Jones' elite player squad ahead of this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

That position could now change, though, with Rokoduguni likely to be among the front-runners as a potential replacement for Saracens wing Chris Ashton, who was hit with a 10-week suspension on Wednesday.

Ashton has been banned from playing until March 28 after being found guilty of making contact with the eye or eye area of Ulster centre Luke Marshall during the first half of Saracens' 33-17 European Champions Cup victory last Saturday.

Saracens are now considering whether to appeal the suspension that has ruled Ashton out of England's entire Six Nations campaign.

Rokoduguni has delivered a number of impressive displays for Bath this season, and he has looked their most potent try-scoring threat on several occasions.

Bath head coach Mike Ford said: " Roko is an incredible talent, especially considering he is still at a relatively early stage in his professional rugby career.

"He is a complete professional on and off the pitch, and I know he's just going to keep getting better and better.

"We are delighted he has stayed, and are excited to see the next stages in his progression as a player."

Rokoduguni, who is a lance corporal and reconnaissance tank soldier in the Royal, Scots Dragoon Guards, added: " I had no hesitation in continuing my career at Bath.

"I feel that I have developed a lot as a player since I first joined, and that is down to the team and coaches at Bath.

"I am excited about where we can go as a team, and I am looking forward to playing a role in that."