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Todd Blackadder: Bath director of rugby to leave at end of season

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments105

Todd Blackadder
Todd Blackadder joined Bath in 2016

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder will leave the Premiership club at the end of the campaign to become head coach at Japanese side Toshiba.

Blackadder signed a contract extension at The Rec until the end of next season in September, but the 47-year-old has been granted an early release.

Former captain Stuart Hooper is expected to take on Blackadder's role.

Bath, who are seventh in the table, said they would confirm their new coaching structure in the coming weeks.

New Zealander Blackadder will depart after Bath's last game of the season with the Somerset side still in contention to reach the play-offs.

They are due to face fellow top-four contenders Sale and Wasps and then strugglers Leicester in their last three regular season Premiership matches.

Blackadder joined Bath in 2016 after seven years as head coach of Canterbury Crusaders.

He led the club to consecutive top six finishes in the Premiership and qualification for the European Champions Cup.

"It's been an honour and a privilege to lead the Blue, Black and White for the past three years," he said.

"I'm incredibly proud of what we have achieved. It might not be silverware, but together we have built strong foundations and I leave knowing that the best is absolutely yet to come."

Hooper, 37, spent eight years as a Bath player before retiring in 2016 and is now their general manager.

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105 comments

  • Comment posted by Outsidebreak13, at 13:23 17 Apr 2019

    Arguably Bath have been underperforming given their playing roster albeit acknowledging a fair amount of injuries. As such I would be wary of promoting from within, fresh ideas are needed. At Quins, the poor decision to promote John Kingston was made after O'Shea. We supporters said it would be a disaster and it was for 2 years. A cautionary note to Bath supporters.

  • Comment posted by cc82, at 14:21 17 Apr 2019

    Todd has been a genuine, thoroughly decent bloke during his time at Bath. But I do think this is for the best. As a fan it's been tough watching such an able bunch of players perform so inconsistently; there's no immediate sign of that changing.

    Hooper is a decent bloke but he is most definitely not the answer. A fresh voice is needed for sure and that needs to come from a proven coach/DoR.

  • Comment posted by lloydie, at 13:05 17 Apr 2019

    Hoops, although a great servant of Bath rugby, doesn't have enough experience imho. I think we need to bring in a DOR/Head coach with experience. Cockers, Lancaster, Richards?

  • Comment posted by MoonInUranus, at 13:10 17 Apr 2019

    On Saturday Hooper was still carrying instruction to the team disguised as a waterboy.

    I'd be surprised if he's ready to take the lead mantle just yet tbh.

  • Comment posted by Cassandra , at 17:05 17 Apr 2019

    One interesting issue re Folau is that one of the groups pressurising Rugby Australia to take action was Qantas, a sponsor. Fair enough albeit one of Qantas' alliance partners is the state owned Qatar Air. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.

    But then so much easier to go after an individual with unpleasant views than a country which acts on them.

    Look forward to the downticks from people.

  • Comment posted by Joe, at 13:23 17 Apr 2019

    The RSPCA has announced that all Bath fans with dogs need to ring the following number, it's 0800 017 2723 and it gives advice on how to hold onto a lead!

  • Comment posted by thesomersetninja, at 14:27 17 Apr 2019

    Given his experience and previous success, I was expecting TB to have a major impact on Bath's fortunes. However, for me he's never fulfilled that potential, which given Bath's squad is a big disappointment. Warren - fancy a stint at the Rec? Could be the making of you, son...

  • Comment posted by Dan, at 13:28 17 Apr 2019

    He inherited a strong and well drilled side from Mike Ford and hasn't been able to do much with it. My worry is that Hooper just isn't ready for the main role. I'd like to see Shaun Edwards in the role...

  • Comment posted by Robbie, at 14:54 17 Apr 2019

    I have never been 100% sure what style of play Blackadder wanted. We were ok all over the park, but dominant no where.
    We also perform so much better in the first 40 minutes, which always made me feel we get out coached in the 2nd 40.
    Hard to tell from the stands, but I never bought in.

  • Comment posted by lando, at 19:17 17 Apr 2019

    Hooper ... Bath need someone who can walk on water, not carry it

  • Comment posted by U16975695, at 17:35 17 Apr 2019

    Please ! Please !
    Anyone but Hooper, he was the most tactically inept captain Bath have ever had.

  • Comment posted by mog505, at 16:19 17 Apr 2019

    @glowing gammon, freedom of speech has not been affected. These guys are free to say what they want and they have done. But free speech does not mean there are no consequences from people who dislike what you have said.
    Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence. It is freedom to say what you like and face the consequences. That is what Folau is undergoing now.

  • Comment posted by U15034420, at 16:11 17 Apr 2019

    Bath have punched below their weight, under Blackadder. More is expected. Huge pressure on Hooper.

  • Comment posted by Only Me, at 14:36 17 Apr 2019

    As a Bath fan, Todd has been a great bloke to have at the club but his impact has been pretty underwhelming in terms of results and consistancy of performance. I'm not surprised he has been let go early - Lancaster would be a good fit IMO.

  • Comment posted by Shewy67, at 13:15 17 Apr 2019

    Conor O'Shea will be free soon and as Quins fan he would be a quality appointment. Sounds like he'll get the sack from Italy

  • Comment posted by TapandGo, at 16:09 17 Apr 2019

    Glowing gammon - I get your point but I think the burn in hell statement is a little bit aggressive for ‘free speech’. Probably a bit over the top. I’m an atheist and whilst I don’t really care what he says it is by its nature offensive. Not really necessary in my opinion. Shame, as a top player.

  • Comment posted by glosfan1961, at 15:23 17 Apr 2019

    I wish him luck. You have a bloke who is more successful than the newcastle coach but newcastle coach keeps his job. Its a team game and we at Gloster know that its not just the coach but players also carry responsibity for results

  • Comment posted by SCJ, at 19:31 17 Apr 2019

    Didn't I see him last week being bundled out of the Ecuadorean embassy ?

  • Comment posted by Glowing Gammon, at 17:46 17 Apr 2019

    Mr Whibble

    The definition of hate speech is becoming increasingly broad and more diluted over time; it's one of the primary instruments used to suppress free speech, which is a concern and should be resisted.

    Why do you assume no one agrees with me? Maybe you're right, but I strongly suspect you're not. The problem with suppression of debate is that you don't get to know what people think.

  • Comment posted by The Holy Hooker, at 13:59 17 Apr 2019

    Hooper isn't DoR material yet, and may never be. Bath need to invest in a proven name to get some consistency and cultivate a bit of dog in the pack.

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