YOU don’t get much more of a seismic English rugby upheaval than swapping the green, white and red of Leicester Tigers for Bath’s blue and black, but Lewis Moody is convinced that leaving the country’s most successful club doesn’t means his trophy-winning years are behind him.

The 32-year-old back rower stunned many by ending his 14-year association with the Midlands side and signing a three-year deal at the Rec earlier this year, but the new England captain is already feeling at home on what was formerly ‘enemy’ territory.

Indeed, as far as the man nicknamed ‘Mad Dog’ is concerned, the hunger for the sort of success that brought him six Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups at Welford Road is just as evident down south as he starts the next chapter of his career.

Bath have just the 2008 European Challenge Cup in their recent trophy cabinet since their own Heineken Cup triumph in 1998, but Moody, a 2003 World Cup winner with England and three-times capped British Lion, told the Wiltshire Times: “This club is very passionate. They want to go forward and win trophies.

“Having played for Leicester for such a long time, that is something we set out sights on very early and this club is the same.

“There is no magic formula for winning trophies, it’s a long season and you have to go out there and play each game.

“I think this Bath side has got as good a chance as any, especially in the way that they were performing last year when the rugby was incredible to watch.

“It’s important we take all our confidence forward as a team and we grow. We play to win and part of that brings silverware. Part of the enjoyment comes from winning trophies.’’ Reflecting on the change in the colour of his shirt, the 63-times capped man added: “I’ve been wearing it for a few months and it’s now a part of me. I had an incredible career at Leicester, but I’m now looking forward to some new challenges down here.

“It’s a great time to be part of Bath Rugby with everything that has been going on.

“I came down and spoke to Nick (Blofeld, chief executive) and Steve (Meehan, head coach) and from that moment on the decision was made pretty easy. I could see they were hungry for success.

“It a huge new challenge for me having been involved with one club for so long. It’s like a new day at school, getting involved with the guys down here and how they went about things. It was a huge culture shock.

“From what I’ve seen so far, this club is as committed as any side I’ve had the privilege of being part of. The training we do is incredibly hard, with the amount of running and ball skills and it’s a matter of getting out on the pitch and working on what we need to improve.

“For me, some elements of my game that have been lacking over the years I saw could really be improved by coming down here and if it is just one string to my bow that’s a vast improvement.’’ MOODY sat out Bath’s seven-try victory over Edinburgh in their final pre-season match at the Rec last Saturday.

Nick Abendanon and captain Luke Watson both scored twice, while Stuart Hooper, Guy Mercer and Matt Banahan also got their names on the scoresheet in the 49-21 victory.