Cam Redpath and Tom de Glanville are special double act

STUART HOOPER hopes that full-back Tom de Glanville can one day follow new Scotland star Cameron Redpath into the Test arena and add more spice to their in-house Calcutta Cup rivalry.

Born a fortnight apart and currently living under the same roof, the 21-yearolds already have a lot in common.

Both Redpath and De Glanville came through the England U20s setup and both have famous rugby-playing fathers, but it is Redpath who won the race to be capped at senior level, in Scotland's historic 11-6 win against England at Twickenham last weekend.

Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper says he is not surprised at how quickly Redpath's stock has risen in the last 18 months, from fringe player at Sale to one of the most exciting young centres in the northern hemisphere.

“He did well, didn't he?” Hooper said. “I am so pleased for him. He looked like he was made for it. “Did I think he could be playing international rugby at this time? Absolutely.

“Did I predict that he could go out and put in such a mature performance in his first Test, beating England at Twickenham for the first time in 30-odd years? Probably not.

“But it was always in his capacity and capability to do so, he is a quality, quality, player.”

De Glanville's opportunities at Bath have largely come when England regular Anthony Watson has been unavailable.

And in the years to come, the Bathonian, below, could be challenging his more celebrated teammate for his position on both counts.

“When he has had the opportunity to play and he gets the ball in his hands, he is dangerous,” Hooper said.

“I think the basic parts of his game are strong as well. As a full-back these days you're going to get peppered and his high ball work is good.

“He is someone who has grown up with the game through his dad, and he understands it and he gets excited about it.

“Deeg and Cam are the same age and they live together, so there is a bit of England- Scotland banter for sure.

“He is another quality player and someone we are looking after and hoping we can develop down the same route as Cam has gone, albeit in a white shirt not a blue one.”

Watson and another seasoned England international, Jonathan Joseph, have come under criticism for their form in a blue, black and white jersey, and Hooper welcomes pressure for places.

“You can't build a team on guaranteeing people starts. There are different reasons why people start and don't start and that has to remain consistent, and there has to be an aspirational route into the first team,” he said.

“If you look at the backend of last year, yes there are those names in Deeg and Cam who got starts but also guys like Miles (Reid) and Josh (Bayliss) who have quickly become invaluable to us.

“Equally, with those guys, they need to perform every time they play because there are other people wanting to get in.

“Ethan (Staddon) started on the flank the other weekend; he is Bath's youngest-ever Premiership player and now he has had a taste of Premiership rugby, he wants to keep going.

“Whether you have got 60-odd caps for your country or one cap for Bath, you're in the mix.”