Having gained the necessary work permit, Bakewell will link up with the club's new backs coach, Steve Meehan.

He said: "It's an honour to work at a club like Bath; it is a fantastic opportunity for myself.

"I'm looking forward to bringing some of my own ideas to the role and building on the outstanding technical foundations left by Michael Foley."

Bakewell was born in New Zealand but began his coaching career in Australia, where as coach of Sydney Eastern Suburbs he was named New South Wales Coach of the Year in 2000.

He moved to France in 2001 to take up the position of head coach at Brive before taking up a coaching role at Beziers in 2003.

Bath chief executive Bob Calleja said: "We are extremely pleased that Mark Bakewell's work permit has finally been approved.

"We now have two full-time, experienced coaches working with the squad. I would particularly like to thank Don Foster, our local MP, for his contribution and advice in the application process."