Bath set to kick-off pre-season at Leeds Carnegie

A new era at Bath Rugby is set to dawn when they take on Leeds Carnegie in the first game of pre-season on Saturday.

Todd Blackadder is the new Director of Rugby at the Recreation Ground while his assistant at New Zealand Super Rugby side, the Canterbury Crusaders, Tabai Matson, joins him as the Head Coach.

Bath have also had a huge turn-over in playing staff over the summer, with 14 members of the squad leaving for pastures new at other clubs while long-serving lock Stuart Hooper decided to hang up his boots at the age of 34.

Eight new faces have arrived, however, including Tonga-born Wales international Taulupe Faletau from the Newport Gwent Dragons.

The man everyone will be keeping on eye on though is Jack Walker.

Walker moved to Bath, from Leeds, in early May and will be keen to make an impression on his new teammates and coaches when he takes on his former employers at the weekend.

He was part of the England U20 squad that won the Junior World Championship title in 2014, alongside Charlie Ewels and Tom Woolstencroft - both Bath academy graduates.

After the trip to Leeds, Bath with travel to Scarlets and then finish off pre-season with a third away match at Leinster before they open up the Premiership season with a home clash against the Northampton Saints.