ENGLAND star Anthony Watson has committed his future to Bath after signing a contract extension that will see him remain at the club until 2017.

Watson, who scored a try against the Crusaders on England's summer tour of New Zealand, was also on the scoresheet in Bath's opening Aviva Premiership win at Sale on Saturday.

“Last season was great for me in many ways – from getting regular first team rugby in a winning team, to being called up to tour with England this summer – and I know that a large part of the reason I’ve managed to do all that is due to my move to Bath,'' said the 20 year old.

"The club has a fantastic commitment to developing young players and making them the best they can be.

“The whole environment here is about working hard to make improvements every day, focusing on what we can all do to develop our game for the greater good of the team, and that has really helped me push on.

"I’ve really enjoyed my time here at Bath so far, so I was really excited to extend my contract, and I can’t wait to play my part as we set about achieving our aims.”

Watson has made 29 appearances in total, scoring five tries since arriving last summer after lifting the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship trophy.

He was selected for the England for the 2014 RBS 6 Nations and marked his England Saxons debut against the Irish Wolfhounds with a long-range interception try.

Bath head coach Mike Ford said: “Anthony is an incredible talent, and we’re obviously delighted he’s staying with us.

"I think what is most exciting for us as coaches is that he’s still young and still has so much potential to get better. He has a real natural ability on the field, and that will only become more finely tuned as he gets more experience.

“He’s the kind of player that you want to watch, that will constantly baffle defences as they don’t know what he’s going to do next, and we’re all looking forward to working with him and helping him progress in his career.”

Loosehead prop Beno Obano has joined the Bath Academy on a one-year contract.

The 19-year-old, a former student of Dulwich College who was previously a member of the Wasps Academy, impressed during his spell with Bath United last season.

“Beno is an incredibly strong prop who can bring an edge to our forward play,” said Academy Director Danny Grewcock.

“We’re developing a really exciting Academy squad, and he will be a key player this season.”

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