Bath have moved quickly to plug the gap left by Sam Burgess’ return to rugby league after on Tuesday announcing the signing of Scotland back-row forward David Denton from Edinburgh.
Burgess returned to former club the South Sydney Rabbitohs last week after an unsuccessful 12-month stint as a rugby union player with Bath that culminated in England’s group-stage exit at the World Cup.
Bath had hoped to sign Wales international Taulupe Faletau, before turning their attentions to 25-year-old Zimbabwe-born Scotland international Denton.
“We’ve been looking to bolster our back-row for some time now, so we’re very excited that David is joining us,” Bath head coach Mike Ford said in a statement on the English Premiership club’s Web site.
“He had an excellent World Cup, especially in the quarter-final, where he managed to outshine one of the best Australian back rows I’ve seen for a long time,” the club said.
“He’s going to fit in very well with the team and the way we play here,” Ford said.
Denton is due to travel to Toulon for Bath’s European Champions Cup clash on Sunday, but he is not expected to play.
Bath were on the verge of signing Faletau from Newport Gwent Dragons, only for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to veto the agreement.
They were also reported to have shown interest in South Africa flanker Schalk Burger and France No. 8 Louis Picamoles.
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