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Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder.

Blackadder to leave Bath at end of the season despite extending contract in September

Bath are on the search for a new director of rugby.

TODD BLACKADDER HAS confirmed he will leave Bath at the end of the Premiership season to join Japanese Top League side Toshiba Brave Lupus.

Blackadder moved to Bath ahead of the 2016-17 campaign after a seven-year stint in charge of the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

Since arriving in England, Blackadder has guided Bath to fifth and sixth-placed finishes in the league while they reached the European Challenge Cup semi-finals in his first season.

Whether Bath finish in the top six and secure a return to the Champions Cup for 2019-20 remains to be seen, but Blackadder will not lead them going forward – even though he signed a contract extension in September.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to lead the blue, black and white for the past three years and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved,” he said in a statement.

“It might not be silverware but together we have built strong foundations and I leave knowing that the best is absolutely yet to come.

“Bath is a very special club. I’d like to thank everyone, especially the players and all of the staff. I also want to thank our supporters, even in the wind, rain and biting cold they are all at the Rec cheering us on. Thank you. Our sights remain set on a top-four finish and we are all intent on making this season our best one yet.”

Bath confirmed Blackadder had been granted an early release from his deal, and the club will confirm his replacement in the coming weeks.

- Omni

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    Mute Fergus Murphy
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    Apr 17th 2019, 3:02 PM

    ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’ would have made for a better headline

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    Mute David O Callaghan
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    Apr 17th 2019, 2:56 PM

    He has a plan so cunning you could even call it a cunning plan.

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 17th 2019, 3:11 PM

    @David O Callaghan: it could be if he’s as cunning as a fox who’s just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University

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    Mute David O Callaghan
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    Apr 17th 2019, 3:26 PM

    @David Weston: Or it could be the stickiest situation since Sticky the stick insect got stuck in a sticky bun.(one of my all time favourite quotes from the venerable series,lol)

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 17th 2019, 4:09 PM

    @David O Callaghan: or … He’s madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of last year’s Mr Madman competition.”

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    Mute Joseph C. Halpin
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    Apr 17th 2019, 11:01 PM

    @David Weston: Hey Blackie, love the beard, gives me something to hold onto.

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    Mute Sean Mannion
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    Apr 17th 2019, 2:09 PM

    Next Dragons coach maybe?

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    Mute Sean Mannion
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    Apr 17th 2019, 2:10 PM

    @Sean Mannion: should’ve read the article…

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    Mute Baz Dunne
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    Apr 17th 2019, 2:10 PM

    @Sean Mannion: he’s off to Japan

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    Mute RabidHorizon
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    Apr 17th 2019, 11:09 PM

    @Baz Dunne: but Dragons are Welsh not Japanese

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    Mute Diarmuid O Donnchadha
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    Apr 17th 2019, 6:45 PM

    Any word on Baldrick?

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