BATH Rugby coach Todd Blackadder believes he has 30 players capable of featuring at Premiership level on a regular basis.

Blackadder, who first took charge of Bath in 2016, was in an optimistic mood just weeks before they start their Premiership campaign against Bristol on Friday, August 31.

The addition of Jamie Roberts plus being able to welcome Dave Attwood back into the squad after 18 months out bodes well for a positive season for Bath, though Blackadder insists his team must get the basics right if they are to earn their first piece of silverware since 2008.

He said: “I think we’ve gone past the best 15 and instead have 30 players that are more than capable of putting on a jersey.

“I really feel that we’re in a good place, I feel like the coaching team and leadership team that are both really delivering.

“They’re pushing themselves to be better every single day of the week.

“Our focus so far this pre-season has been about getting our strikes right, being a genuine threat across the board.

“Doing our basics well will be key, and we’ve certainly got the new personal to do that and skill sets.

“We can build on what we did well last year with what we have in place and look to be more consistent.

“With extra resource, it’s freed us up as coaches to deliver far better to our players.”

With more coaching staff behind the team than before, Blackadder revealed coaching sessions have been of higher quality and it’s helped to fine-tune the club’s focus.

But pre-season work is of little importance when compared to results on the pitch once Bath’s Premiership campaign starts, something the New Zealander has highlighted to his men.

“We’ve put a lot of focus on various key areas that we believe can take us forward,” said Blackadder.

“Our line-out work we’ve put a lot of effort into and our attack too.

“I know we’re coaching better and we’re more focussed. We’re building a game plan around what our strengths are as a team.

“I think we’ve moved on from last season, and hopefully fans will see that in the way that we move forward.”