Bath Rugby and Wigan Warriors keen to start long-term relationship after cross ...

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Wigan Warriors head coach Shaun Wane says he hopes this week’s cross-code training camp with Bath Rugby is the start of a long-term relationship between the pair.

Super League champions Wigan descended on Bath’s Farleigh House headquarters on Monday and Tuesday, with both sides seeking fresh stimulation as they prepare for critical phases of their respective seasons.

Bath boss Mike Ford is keen to give his troops a shot in the arm before the new Aviva Premiership campaign gets under way in early September, while Wane wants to keep Wigan motivated as they look to cement a place in the end-of-season play-offs.

Ford and Wane are well known to each other having played together for Warriors in the 1980s and have a shared coaching philosophy.

Wane believes that makes the two clubs a perfect match and he would be more than happy to host Bath in a similar event at Wigan’s Edge Hall Road training base.

“It’s been a great benefit coming down here, so if we can return the favour and do anything for Bath in the North West we’d gladly do it,” said Wane.

“Bath’s a fantastic club and the facilities are second to none.

“I know Mike really well because I played with him. I know his style, and I know George Ford and Kyle Eastmond.

“The way they play is very straight and very much a rugby league style.

“I could see a lot of similarities and I’d be very, very keen to push it forward with Bath because of our bond.”

Bath boss Ford is an expert on both codes and started an 18-year rugby league playing career at Wigan in the 1980s.

The former England rugby union defence chief was delighted with what his troops got out the camp and believes it will be a big benefit once the competitive campaign gets under way next month.

Ford said: “It’s been a fantastic experience for us; better than I’d hoped.

“You’re always looking to freshen things up. I could see an extra level of intensity from us and when we went away to train on our own we kept that same intensity up.

“As soon you put a group of players on a field they want to compete. There’s nothing better for a coach to see than that.

“You can’t go to another rugby union club and say “what are you doing?” So it’s been good to exchange ideas this way.

“You get ideas watching games but when you work with them live you get to know the real nitty-gritty side of it.

“Even if it’s just half a step here or half a step there, it could be crucial with the level of detail these guys put on it.” 

Article source: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/dr-bowes-not-just-a-student-of-rugby-30403139.html

Bath Rugby and Wigan Warriors keen to start long-term relationship after cross ...