Old boy Catt in line for Bath approach
DUBLIN, IRELAND - FEBRUARY 08: Mike Catt, Assistant coach gives instructions prior to the 2020 Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium on February 08, 2020 in Dublin, Dublin. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
ON THE BLINDSIDE
Mike Catt could be offered the chance to return to Bath if the Springboks come calling for head coach Johann van Graan to join their coaching staff after the World Cup.
The current world champions need to replace Jacques Nienaber, who is taking over at Leinster after the tournament in France ends, and it is likely to lead to a revamp of the Boks staff.
It has been suggested to Blindside that Deon Davids, who is a member of Nienaber's coaching team, is likely to get promoted to the top job, and Van Graan could become an assistant. That would leave a vacancy at The Rec, and Catt, 52, who has been Ireland's attack coach under Andy Farrell since 2019, could feature on their potential list of replacements.
The Port Elizabeth-born former Lions star spent 12 years as a player at Bath after joining as an understudy to Stuart Barnes.
The 2003 World Cup winner started the 1998 Heineken Cup final win over Brive and played for Bath until leaving for London Irish in 2004, where he began his coaching career. He worked for England and Italy before linking up with Farrell.
Catt, who also played in the 2007 RWC final defeat to South Africa, is held in high regard in Bath and could be tempted to leave Ireland to return to the club where he made his name.
