Saw it earlier, haven't had a chance to check them out yet, sounds good from what you say. Are they local?
I work in construction recruitment, might ask my colleagues in architecture about them tomorrow
Global, though they did Bath Spa, and some buildings at Bath Uni, so they know the planners, and designing iconic buildings in a world heritage acceptable way.
Banahan leaving Bath for Gloucester. Thats a blow for Bath
Yeah, the rumours are £30k extra and an extra year; Double the £££ and an extra year; or an extra year, and double £££ over contract period (so a 30% increase and an extra year). TBH the third sounds the most likely, and could easily be misheard / misunderstood as either of the other 2 options.
From Bana's perspective, he'll be 34 by the end of his contract; he's also losing a little agility, which has always been his achilles heel, and becoming more injury prone. This is his last major contract, and it's a pretty big one, and will set him up for his future after rugby, and put his kids through school, he'll be rightly wanting every extra penny he can get, and that extra year is invaluable to him.
From Glaws' perspective, they get a very good utility back and leader who fits Ackerman's (apparent) desires really well; they've also got plenty of younger options kicking around to be able to take a risk on a senior pro.
From Bath's perspective, he's not a nailed-on starter; we've 4 wings all looking to renew this season; 3 of them are 31. Brew is the best value-for-money, significantly cheasper than Banas, and genuinely challenging him for a starting shirt. Roko is our best winger, and has the least wear in his body for a 31 year old, whilst Williams is our cheapest, youngest (at 29!) and fastest. We need new blood in the back3; and Banas currently presents the worst value-for-money option. Brew has already renewed for 2 years, I expect Roko to get another 2-3, whilst Williams to depend on who we get to replace Banas (rumoured to be Cokanasiga), and whether either academy wing looks ready for senior rugby (1 big, 1 fast). The other factor is the potential replacement, if Cokanasiga was already being lined up (allegedly his new contract with LI gives Bath first refusal if they're relegated), then we'd be bringing in a big boshing wing, which also makes Banahan the most vulnerable to being replaced / least worth a salary increase.
On the salary itself, our initial offer to Bath was (said) to match his existing salary - signed when he was 26 and being capped for England, so hardly a ****-take offer; it's possible he negotiated us up a little from there as well, we just don't know. Bendy (and Fearns) both seem to have been holding a grudge against Bath since leaving, though Carl aims his mostly at MFord; and his claiming that Banas is world class is just a bit... flouncey.
The way I see it, it's a gamble from Glos perspective, and one that may well pay-off for them; but trying to match it would be a greater gamble for Bath.
