McConnochie and Van Velze join Bath coaching staff

Bath's Ruaridh McConnochie will remain at the club after announcing his retirement from playing last week

Bath have confirmed Ruaridh McConnochie and Gerrit-Jan van Velze will join a new-look backroom staff from the beginning of next season.

Winger McConnochie, 33, last week announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of this season having made 97 appearances for the club so far.

He has been appointed as Bath's new skills coach, which the club describe as a part-time role that aims to "support injured players on their return-to-play programmes, as well as back-three players across the pathway".

He said: "I'm delighted to be staying on at Bath Rugby in a coaching capacity.

"I've always loved the game and to be able to use my experiences to hopefully improve players coming through the club is something I couldn't say no to."

Van Velze, 37, has been appointed to a new consultancy role of player innovation and performance futures, which will involve him working with players on an individual level to "accelerate their personal growth."

The former Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors forward retired from playing at the end of last season.

"I'm proud to continue the journey with Bath Rugby," he told the club website.

"It's an exciting place to be right now, and I'm looking forward to seeing how far we can push this."

Bath confirmed that former England and Scotland coach Andy Robinson, the club's head of academy coaching, and scrum coach Stevie Scott have extended their deals, keeping them at the club next season.