Worcester Warriors sign lock Joe Batley from Bristol Bears

Worcester Warriors have confirmed the signing of lock Joe Batley from Gallagher Premiership club Bristol Bears for the 2020/21 season.

A product of Gloucester Academy, Batley started his professional rugby career with the Cherry and Whites in 2014 and moved to Bristol Bears ahead of the 2017/18 season.

The 23-year-old will now follow the likes of Billy Searle and Matt Kvesic in the players, who will head to Sixways ahead of the new season. He was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2018 but returned to action after successful recovery and was involved in a loan stint with Leicester Tigers when the ongoing season was disrupted by the pandemic coronavirus.

“Obviously I know Jonathan Thomas and Mark Irish really well. I have enjoyed working with them over the last three years at Bristol so the chance to continue working with them was something that really excited me,” Batley told the official website of the club.

“I enjoy their coaching ethos and how they want the game to be played so it will be nice to keep that going as well as being in a new environment with a new bunch of boys.

“From the conversations I have had with Solly, he’s got a very good vision about what he wants the club to achieve and I want to be part of that.”