By David Hibell
July 23 2003

The new look coaching team for the upcoming season has now been confirmed with the announcement of the worst kept secret at the mem for many a year with Richard Hills Appointment today. He resumes the role of head coach he previously held for three and a half years after stints as assistant coach at Newport and Ebbw Vale working alongside Leigh Jones and at NEC Harlequin where he partnered Mark Evans anf John Kingston.

He has a fine coaching record in the Zurich premiership, together with Mark Evans he turned NEC Harlequin around after the departure as coaching chief of Zinzan Brooke with Quins reaching the Tetley Bitter cup final where they lost to Newcastle in a highly controversial circumstances, before they beat Narbonne in the European Shield final. The following season he formed part of a coaching double act with John Kingston and the extent of the turn around was shown with an increase in season ticket sales of some 80%!

We all know what happened at Gloucester where many people have said that the improvements attributed to PSA were down to the groundwork put in by the one known as Richar Dill.

He has also coached England A and garnered 29 England caps as a player, including five as captain.

He will join Martin Haag the first team coach and Pete Johnson whose official role is, I believe, Academy manager to form a knowledgeable and experienced triumvirate.

With Bath confirming that the ex Exeter Chiefs leading scorer Chris Malone is set for a loan move for the first half of the season giving more time to find a permanent fly half the squad is really starting to take shape now.