Lewis Relishes Bath Challenge

Former Wales international Geraint Lewis has set his sights on making an impact on the Zurich premiership and Heineken cup with his new side Bath.

Things looked particularly bleak for the former Pontypridd and Swansea number eight as the season kicked off.

His club Rotherham faced being wrapped up, and even for a player of the quality of Lewis the chance of a contract elsewhere looked remote, with clubs having dished out most if no all of their playing budgets.

Lewis was left to contemplate a move back to his home town Pontypridd and seek alternative employment there - a cruel fate for a player who was the stand out performer in a dismal Zurich Premiership campaign for his club, especially after failing to land a regional contract in Wales the season before.

At the time 16 times capped Lewis said "I would like to carry on being a professional rugby player.

"I will look around, but realistically I can't see anything being available at this late stage.

"So I am in a bit of limbo. Coming back to Wales to play in the semi-pro set-up is an option. I will have to make some decisions in the next few days."

By what Lewis has termed himself as "a near miracle" aided by support from local businessmen Roth survived, albeit without a core of their side and newly appointed coach Ross Reynolds.

The back rower though stuck around, guiding the Yorkshire club to an unbeaten start to their Division one campaign.

Things took an even better turn, with Bath offering the 30 year old a return to the Zurich Premiership, a move Lewis just couldn't turn down.

"The opportunity to join a club like Bath Rugby does not come around too often," he explained to www.bathrugby.com . "I did not have to be asked twice to be honest with you as it is a great opportunity for me."

Only a week into his stay at the Rec, he is already buoyant.

The boys have made me very welcome and have made me feel at home which I would like to thank them for," he said.

"You can immediately tell that there is a good spirit within the club and great banter. What has struck me is that it is a very well organized club. From the outside looking in Bath Rugby has such a great stature and from just a few days of being here it is easy to see why."

Lewis will share car lifts from South Wales with some of his new Welsh based team mates, the front row trio of Christian Loader, Jonathan Humphries and Duncan Bell.

"That is very nice as well and it makes it easier to blend in and it is always good when you know a few people, but everyone at this club has been very friendly and they have all helped me settle in."

"Like most players my ambition is to play rugby and ultimately play rugby for the first team. I realise that this is a very settled Bath Rugby pack and that is particularly so in the back row with Andy Beattie, Michael Lipman and Zak Feaunati all playing fantastically well and then there are the boys on the bench like Delvey and James Scaysbrook! However, sometimes all you need is a bit of luck, so you never know,"

Luck of course being something which has rarely been on his side.