Cunningham appointed Bath head of recruitment

Prem champions Bath have appointed former Ulster general manager Bryn Cunningham as their new head of recruitment.

Cunningham left his role at the Irish province in September after 11 years.

The 47-year-old was a member of the Ulster squad that won the European Cup in 1999 and made more than 150 appearances for the club before he was forced to retire because of injury in 2010.

Cunningham's move to The Rec means he will work with former Munster head coach Johann van Graan, who led Bath to a treble last season after being appointed in 2022.

Bath are second in the Prem table behind Northampton and face Saracens in the Investec European Champions Cup round of 16 in April.

"It was a difficult decision to leave Ulster, so my next move needed to be right for both my family and my career and Bath couldn't fit more perfectly," Cunningham said.

"I'm delighted to join an already successful team and look forward to working with Johann and everyone else at the club to help achieve even more in the years ahead."

Cunningham comes in following the exit of former Bath head of recruitment Rob Burgess, who has joined Prem rivals Gloucester as their general manager.

"Bryn brings rich experience of both working within the rugby system and on the other side as a player agent," said Van Graan.

"His time in Irish rugby will transition him well into the system here in England and we're looking forward to seeing Bryn manage retention and recruitment at Bath Rugby."