Grant returning to England to join premiership side Bath

Paul Grant (centre) listens before the start of Otago training at Logan Park yesterday. Photo:...
Paul Grant (centre) listens before the start of Otago training at Logan Park yesterday. Photo: Gregor Richardson.
Otago captain Paul Grant is heading back to the United Kingdom.

Grant (28) has signed a one-year deal with Bath in the England Premiership and will leave for the club at the end of the Mitre 10 Cup campaign.

The No8 has just spent two years in England with the Nottingham club, which was in the Championship, the second tier of English club rugby, before coming back to play for Otago this season.

He said the move was one he was looking forward to and he was pleased to get the opportunity. He would link up with former Crusaders coaches Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson.

"They need a couple more loose forwards to bolster their squad . . . my agent over there has been keeping an eye on what teams want over there," Grant said.

"It’s a very good standard  of rugby and there is a lot of exposure. It is big-time rugby and so there will be a bit of pressure on. I am excited about it."

It  would not be that good having Christmas away from family "but it is a good opportunity for me which I had to take".

He  signed just a one-year deal and may stay on, depending on how it  goes.

Grant, who has played more than 60 games for Otago and led the side to  Ranfurly Shield success in 2013, is a hard, durable, fast forward, who has played well for Otago this season.

He  stepped into captaincy duties with Liam Coltman away with the All Blacks.

The former South Otago High School pupil has never played for the Highlanders and many felt he would not have looked out of place playing for the southern franchise.

Grant said playing for the Highlanders would have been great but he had to be realistic.

"They have already got their loose forwards contracted so there wasn’t a spot available for me. That is the way it goes. There are a lot of good rugby players in New Zealand and only five [Super rugby] teams while in England there are 12 teams to play for."

Grant left Otago after the end of the 2013 season, firstly playing for Montpellier in France in the 2013-14 northern hemisphere season before moving to Nottingham.

He returned to Dunedin mid year and helped Kaikorai win the club banner this season.

Grant will join up with fellow New Zealanders Dan Bowden and Robbie Fruean at Bath, which has made an impressive start to the season.

He did not know Blackadder personally but had heard good things about him and Bath.

He was sad to leave Otago but knew it was a good move.

"I have really enjoyed it coming back here. But this is my next move in my career and it is about putting my best foot forward."

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