Watson named Bath captain
Bath have named Luke Watson captain ahead of the new season as the club look to mount a strong title challenge.
Watson has been given the role in front of Lewis Moody who had been strongly linked to the captaincy over the last two weeks. Watson's responsibilities will start immediately but it is a role he can rise to.
The South African number eight has been praised for his leadership qualities, which he showed during the course of the last season for Bath. It is thought that the last captain Michael Claassens strongly reccomended him for the role.
Watson has a number of qualities that will make him ideal as captain of Bath. The pressures and strains will increase because the money pumped in to Bath means that a top place finish is now a necessity.
Personal qualities
Watson made 20 appearances for Bath last season and during these appearances he was often seen shouting and ordering other players around the field. These are very obvious leadership qualities that prove he's not afraid to take control in a match situation.
He's made over 10 appearances for the South African national side and this means he has experience of rugby at the highest level. It will often put him one step ahead of other players because the pace of international rugby is quicker than domestic rugby.
He's a big and strong athlete who likes to get his hands dirty. There were matches against Northampton and Leicester last season where Watson was seen throwing himself about the field with no regard for his personal safety. He sets the example and expects everyone else to follow.
He said: "It is a big honour and privilege, but it is also a big responsibility. Having spoken with Steve, Michael and a lot of the other players, we have taken our time in coming to the decision and making sure that everyone is happy. It is very much about the team, about Bath, about the bigger picture."
Extra pressure
Watson will now experience a great deal more pressure and strain in his new role. Captains represent their clubs at all times whether it be on the playing field or while they are socialising off of the pitch. This means Watson will always have to keep one eye on his captaincy responsibility.
He will have to be prepared to open himself up as a person. A lot of younger players will approach him for advice over the course of the season and he needs to put himself in an accessible position whether he wants to or not.
Coach Steven Meehan added: "There are a number of things that have to be taken into consideration when choosing a captain and for me Luke ticked all those boxes. But, when you are new to a club, you have to earn the respect of the players, you have to train hard, you have to play hard and I believe Luke has done that. Whilst Luke is captain for the up-and-coming season he will be working alongside six 'Section Leaders'."
Betting advice
This news looks to be a very shrewd decision by Bath and one that should gift the entire team a lift. Moody will now be free to play as he likes and can become an agent of chaos for the club as they are going to play some very tough sides.
Watson will be a very tough and organised captain. Bath will be a lot more organised under him and this will make them more difficult to break down. This means they will lose fewer games and present a stronger betting option if you're thinking of backing them.
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