BATH RUGBY: Gold hails capture of Joseph (From Wiltshire Times)

BATH RUGBY: Gold hails capture of Joseph

3:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport News By Owen Houlihan

THE capture of England centre Jonathan Joseph will add more ‘X-factor’ to Bath’s backline, according to head coach Gary Gold.

London Irish ace Joseph, 21, will join the squad in the summer and Gold is excited about lining him up alongside existing talents such as rugby league convert Kyle Eastmond and fly-half Tom Heathcote.

The Derby-born player was capped by England coach Stuart Lancaster on last summer’s tour of South Africa and Gold believes his arrival is a vote of confidence to the squad building work being done at Bath.

“He’s exciting, a prodigious talent at a young age,’ said Gold.

“He’s already been capped in a very difficult environment in three Tests against the Springboks, which is a very difficult baptism of fire for a young kid.

“I think he came through well and he’s definitely a player I would say has got X-factor.

“If we can continue to set a good platform and have a strong pack in the winter months when it’s difficult and wet and then you have the likes of Tom Heathcote and Kyle Eastmond and Matt Banahan and now Jonathan Joseph in the backline, that’s a very exciting prospect for us.”

Gold added: “The big issue for us going forward is strength in depth. It’s the most gruelling season in world rugby, bar none, and the teams doing well are the teams with strength in depth.

“The key is to develop you own players and attract youngsters who are going to make a difference. Jonathan is one of those and we are privileged and thankful he was keen to join us.

Joseph said: “I’ve loved my time with London Irish, but feel it’s time to make a move and Bath is an extremely exciting prospect.

“You can see what the coaches are looking to build there in terms of culture, they already have a really talented squad and I hope I can add something to that.

“Obviously I’m still developing as a player and I feel that Bath will give me a fantastic environment in which to do that.”

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