WILTSHIRE'S Bath Rugby hooker Tom Dunn will be the ambassador for the Aviva Premiership club's award-winning HITZ Programme next season.

Studley hooker Dunn, formerly of Chippenham RFC, will take the role with the project, a study programme that aims to re-engage young people aged 16-18 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), using sport as its vehicle.

Dunn started playing rugby aged 12, racing through the levels at Corsham RFC and Chippenham, as well as the county age group circuit and onto Bath's radar within three years, crediting rugby with refocusing him during his teenage years.

Dunn, who was recently nominated for the LV Breakthrough Player of the Year Award in addition to being short-listed in the Aviva Community Player of the Year category, will support the work of the HITZ staff and will act as a mentor to the young people enrolled on the programme.

He said: "I'm delighted to be taking on the role of HITZ Ambassador and I'm looking forward to working with everyone involved with the programme. Rugby is something that can have a positive impact on young people and can be used as a tool to engage them and help them in different aspects of their lives.

"The programme has already helped a lot of people across Bath & North East Somerset so I can't wait to get started with the current group."

Bath Rugby HITZ Officer Stephen Barber said: "At Bath we are committed to helping young people across Bath & North East Somerset and Wiltshire develop the skills needed to ensure they have a successful future.

"I have known Tom for many years, we even played together at Chippenham when he was working his way through the ranks to become a pro and to have Tom on board is a huge boost for our HITZ Programme. I’m really delighted and I am sure the young people he works with will learn a lot from him.”