Tom Biggs: Hull FC-bound Bath winger praised by Gary Gold

Bath will be "worse off" without Hull FC-bound winger Tom Biggs, says director of rugby Gary Gold.

It was announced on Thursday that 29-year-old Biggs had agreed to make a cross-code switch to his hometown club at the end of the Premiership season.

He has spent three years at the Rec, making 60 league appearances so far.

"Everyone loves having him around and he's a bit of a fan favourite. We are going to be worse off not having him around," Gold told BBC Radio Bristol.

"We're sad to see him go but in another way we're happy to see a guy fulfil an exciting dream and ambition."

A former England Saxons player, Biggs started his career at Leeds and had a spell at Newcastle before signing for Bath in 2010.

He was the West Country side's top try-scorer in the 2011-12 season but has had to fight for a place on the wing this term against Matt Banahan and Semesa Rokoduguni.

Although he has only made two Premiership starts during the current campaign, Gold insists Biggs was very much in their plans for the future.

"There are no offers on the table to anyone at this stage of the season but we were keen to speak to Tom and explore scenarios," said the South African.

"But we were notified that this was the route he was going to take.

"The way he's handled it has been impeccable. He's been open and honest with us, as I hope we have been with him. It's been painless and he's been a model professional.

"He was part of our plans, and still is for this year, and now we have a decision to make in our recruitment."