Stooke heading back to Bath

Elliot Stooke’s return to Bath has been confirmed by the club a month after it was foreseen by The Rugby Paper’s Neil Fissler in his Blindside column.

Stooke, 30, was at Bath for five years between 2016 and 2021 in which he made 127 appearances for the club, following a two year spell with West Country rivals Gloucester where he began his Premiership career.

Commenting on the club’s website, the second row said: “It’s great to be back at Bath. Playing at The Rec is always such a memorable experience so to be able to come back to the club is an honour.

“I’m familiar with some of the faces here, from both my days at the club the first time around but also from my time at Wasps. It’ll be good to work with Lee [Blackett] again and to get to play with Alfie [Barbeary] too.

“It’s funny how things work out and I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to pull on the Blue, Black and White hoops once again.”

Stooke moved to Wasps in 2021, playing for the club until they went into administration in October of the following year, before spells with Bristol Bears and most recently Montpellier.

But with the latter no longer able to keep him on their books as a “Medical Joker” during the World Cup, Stooke has returned to The Rec.

Bath’s head of rugby Johann van Graan, said: “Elliott will offer another option for us in our set-piece.

“Our line-out, maul and scrum are elements we’re consistently working on so to add Elliott’s experience to these will only be a positive for us.

“He is familiar face with the Bath Rugby supporters and I’m sure they’ll give him a warm welcome when they see him at The Rec.”

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