Henry set for swift return with Bath
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Your support makes all the difference.Bath were last night reported to be lining up the former Wales coach, Graham Henry, for talks about their vacancy for a director of rugby at the Recreation Ground.
Henry, who has just returned to Britain following a short trip to his native New Zealand, said: "It's terrific to be linked with a club of Bath's stature. There has been no formal contact with Bath. That is all I can say." However, a Bath official confirmed an appointment could be made by the end of the week.
It is believed that Jon Callard, who resigned as the club's head coach last week, is being chased by Newport, the club he played for before joining Bath in 1989.
The Gloucester owner and chairman, Tom Walkinshaw, has strongly defended the club's decision to withdraw Henry Paul from the China leg of England's Far East Sevens tour.
A number of players have been withdrawn from the Sevens squad and the clubs responsible were criticised by the Rugby Football Union's performance director, Chris Spice, who hinted that sanctions might be imposed on them. But Walkinshaw countered: "We withdrew him [Paul] because the management at Gloucester found out over the radio that he had been included. The RFU entered into this competition against the wishes of the clubs."
He told Radio Five Live: "This should not be an issue. It's someone talking out of turn. Chris Spice is in a new job and is struggling to come to terms with it. I don't think there will be any fines coming our way because we have complied completely."
Alongside Bath and Harlequins, the Kingsholm club run the risk of being fined or docked points for defying the RFU. However, second-placed Gloucester face a crucial Premiership game with the leaders, Leicester, on Saturday and Paul admitted: "I really want to play against Leicester. It's the quality of game I need to play in to get the experience."
Harlequins' fight against relegation has been made even harder with the news that the England flanker Pat Sanderson will not play again this season, while the full-back David Slemen has been ruled out of next Saturday's game with Newcastle. They should be able to call on Keith Wood, though, as the Ireland hooker is nearly recovered from a long-standing calf injury.
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