Springbok World Cup hero Francois Louw is making a return to Bath to advise the team on match days and inject some additional South African know-how.
While the Bath legend is not in a formal coaching role, head of rugby Johann van Graan wants to tap into the retired flanker's vast experience.
Van Graan knows Louw, who retired in 2020, very well having previously coached him in the South Africa national side.
Louw was a fan favourite at The Rec for nine years following a move from the Stormers and was one of the Premiership's most consistent opensides.
Louw, who has become a financial adviser since hanging up his boots, is nurturing some of the club's young loose forwards, including Miles Reid and Josh Bayliss.
Louw has been spotted alongside the club's coaches and owner Bruce Craig on match days, and van Graan confirmed to TRP that Louw was involved in the club's 2022-23 campaign.
“Francois knows the Premiership and he knows Bath really well,” said van Graan. “He's involved with the club on match days and commercially in certain things. He's a good friend of mine. I was fortunate to coach him for six years.
“Francois is a club legend. He knows the city and was a big help when we moved across. He's a phenomenal man and never too far away for a chat about how about this, or how did you do this before?”
Reid, touted by some as a captain of the future at Bath, is among those picking Louw's brains.
He said: “Flouw's around on gamedays and stuff like that. I've sat down with him in the past and spoken with him around the breakdown. That's what he was renowned for so to get a few tips is really useful.
“It's nice to see people you played with who've moved on and retired still able to help here and there. He's a legend of the club, so to have still have him around is amazing.”
