AN teenager from Amport has signed a professional contract with Bath Rugby.

Tom Carr-Smith, 18, with start with the club when he leaves school in July of this year.

Tom, who plays at scrum-half has signed a long-term Senior Academy Contract.

His first taste of rugby came with Andover RFC at the age of just four, before attending Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury between the ages of eight and 13, and he says he is still in touch with a lot of his old teams mates.

He said: “I have many happy memories of my time with Andover - and my five years at Chafyn Grove, both on and off the field - and I would like to thank all my coaches (especially Andy Waite) for kicking off my love for rugby.

“I’ve always wanted to do something in the sports world, and I’m really looking forward to moving into the professional environment with Bath.

“I have been involved with the Bath Academy since I was 13 and I am very excited about improving as a player, developing my game and learning from some of the best players in the world.”

Tom has been in regular contact with staff at Bath and says the aim is to start some form of training by July 6 but, he says, “we’ll just have to see what happens”.

Tom has played across the backline and this versatility has really helped develop not only his skillset but also his understanding of other positions.

Tom’s recent focus on the No 9 jersey has paid off and his physical attributes (6 ft 1 and 95 Kg) contribute to his point of difference.

Premiership Rugby has announced its plan to resume the Gallagher Premiership season on August 15.

Top-flight fixtures were initially shelved for five weeks in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with play indefinitely suspended on April 8.

But Premiership Rugby has repeatedly outlined its intention to finish the season and, with sports across the country returning, the target date of August 15 was agreed at a board meeting on Thursday evening.

The decision was taken in the wake of Premiership and Championship clubs this week being given provisional authorisation to begin non-contact training, with the structure of the 2019-20 season to follow in due course.

Premiership Rugby chief executive Darren Childs said: “Nothing will happen until it is safe to do so but we will do everything we can to resume the 2019-20 Gallagher Premiership Rugby campaign on Saturday 15 August.