Stuart Hooper appointed performance and player development director of Bath

Bath have appointed former captain and lock Stuart Hooper as performance and player development director of the English Premiership club.

The former England Saxons player joined Bath in 2008 and after an eight-year stint with the club, he was forced into retirement under medical advice in April.

The 34-year-old will now work closely with the club's newly appointed director of rugby Todd Blackadder in performance related operations while he will also assist head coach Tabai Matson in developing skills of the players.

Hooper expressed his delight to be associated with the club and is looking forward to succeed in his new role.

“This is an incredibly exciting role for me. Whilst it’s very different from the weekly role of a professional rugby player, I am absolutely relishing it.

"This role will enable me to help shape the culture and performance of the Club over the long term which is great.”

Meanwhile, former Yorkshire Carnegie centre Andy Rock is set to join Bath as an academy manager following Danny Grewcock's departure in the previous season.

Rock has a reputation of working as the academy director with Yorkshire Carnegie and now will be in charge of the Bath Rugby Academy. He will also work with Hooper in integrating the academy and the senior teams.