Mears agrees new Bath deal

Bath hooker Lee Mears has signed a new two-year contract with the Zurich Premiership club.

Mears made 18 appearances last season – 16 of those as a substitute – in his role understudying Bath’s Welsh international hooker Jonathan Humphreys.

“The next two years will be a critical time in Lee’s career,” said Bath rugby director Jack Rowell. "He needs to have the opportunity to show that he is indeed a player of Premiership capability. We believe he has this potential, but it is up to him to show it.”

Prop Simon Emms, a Bath front-row colleague of Mears’ last term, has today signed for National League One outfit Orrell.

Emms will be joined at Orrell by three other new recruits – former Sale Sharks flanker Richard Wilks, ex-Grenoble lock Adam Jackson and prop Matt Parr.

Orrell have also confirmed that they are in discussions with a “top-class international number eight,” and hope to confirm a signing in the near future.