'Kamikaze Kid' Underhill signs contract extension at Bath
Sam Underhill - one half of Eddie Jones’ so-called Kamikaze Kids in the England back row - had committed his future to Bath for the next three years.
The 23-year-old emerged as a global star at the recent World Cup in Japan, his destructive breakdown partnership with Sale’s Tom Curry a vital component in helping England reach the final where they were eventually beaten by South Africa.
Now he has given the fledgeling Stuart Hooper regime at Bath a massive vote of confidence by putting pen to paper and staying at the Rec.
“I’m delighted to have re-signed with the club. I’m excited about my future with Bath. It’s a club that has a lot of potential. It has been a new set-up this year and I have been impressed by how everything is gelling together.
“We have a very young squad with huge potential and we have a long way to go, but that is something to look forward to and I very much want to be a part of it.
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“We have a young pack and some really promising youngsters coming through the pathway and added to that a bit of experience. It’s an exciting blend in the squad.”
A fresh deal for Underwood wasn’t the only development at Bath on Friday as the club also confirmed Jack Walker and Max Wright have agreed to similar three-year extensions.
Hooper said: “These three young men committing their futures to the club is a huge statement of intent. They are all English qualified and determined to succeed in Bath colours.
“Sam has developed with us and gone on to become one of the best flankers in the world, getting to a World Cup final and performing.
“Combine that with the attributes, attitudes and behaviours of Jack Walker and Max Wright, it is these types of players and these types of commitments that will allow us to become the team that we know we are capable of being.”
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I like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
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