Bath Rugby to host Super League side Wigan Warriors in cross-code training ...

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Bath Rugby are to host Super League champions Wigan Warriors for a dual-code training camp next week.

Head coach Mike Ford is keen to implement some fresh ideas into his pre-season programme ahead of the new Aviva Premiership campaign.

The camp is viewed as the prefect way to invigorate Bath’s preparations for the league opener at Sale Sharks on Saturday, September 6.

Ford first revealed the possibility of a link-up between the sides to the Chronicle last month and Wigan will now head to Bath’s Farleigh House headquarters on Monday and Tuesday.

Former England defence chief Ford is an expert on both codes and started an 18-year rugby league playing career at Wigan in the 1980s.

New Bath first-team coach Darren Edwards said: “Fordy’s experienced with rugby league and has put together a programme to implement the two codes.

“It looks good and we’re looking forward to it.

“It’s a different challenge for the players. We’ve been playing and practising against each other for eight weeks and we just need some new stimulation.”

The camp takes place between Bath’s two pre-season friendlies, which get under way on Saturday when they host RaboDirect Pro 12 side Scarlets at The Rec (3pm).

Wigan, however, are heading into the final furlong of their competitive campaign as they look to secure of a place in the Super League play-offs.

Shaun Wane’s side currently sit second in the table and travel to Hull KR on Thursday but are then without a fixture for a fortnight.

Edwards added: “I can see why they’re keen to do it because they’ll want to stimulate their players and take them out of one environment and put them into a new one, as we do with ours.

“It’s good timing for both of us and it’ll be good for us to see where we’re at on the back of the Scarlets game.

“There are a number of similarities in our game; our defence and parts of our attacking game are similar. We’ll manufacture those situations to make it a worthwhile exercise.

“It’s nice when you do things like this against other people because the competitive edge comes back and there’s always a battle line.

“We’re looking to challenge both our skill sets against each other.”

The training camp brings back memories of two cross-code matches played between Bath and Wigan in 1996.

Wigan thrashed Bath 82-6 in the game played under rugby league rules at Maine Road before Twickenham hosted a return match under union regulations, which Bath – then an amateur side – won 44-19.

Article source: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Rugby-union-Melbourne-Minxes-sponsor-England/story-22084495-detail/story.html

Bath Rugby to host Super League side Wigan Warriors in cross-code training ...