Bath won the European Challenge Cup under Meehan in 2008

Bath head coach Steve Meehan has signed a two-year contract extension that is set to keep him at the Guinness Premiership club until 2012.

"I'm very happy to be staying. To continue working with these players, for this club, and its supporters, is a real privilege," said Meehan.

Meehan, 42, joined Bath from Stade Francais in the summer of 2006, initially as backs coach.

The Australian soon became head coach after the departure of Brian Ashton.

Bath have had a slow start to the season winning only one of their six games including the away defeat by Ulster on Friday in the Heineken Cup.

However, the Queenslander brought Bath their first silverware in 10 years when the club won the European Challenge Cup in 2008.

"The Guinness Premiership keeps throwing up challenges to us as does the Heineken Cup," added Meehan.

"The immediate goal is to find the solutions that put us back at the top and then longer term to help the club maintain the recently established values that will keep us there."

Meehan's decision to extend his stay at Bath comes shortly after the arrival of the new chief executive, Nick Blofeld, who took over from Bob Calleja on 1 September.

"We are delighted Steve has pledged another two years to Bath Rugby, and the whole team both on and off the pitch are keen to keep improving," said Blofeld.

"I think we have the squad, coaches and support team to be regularly finishing in the top four of the Guinness Premiership and challenging for major honours, domestically and on the European stage, over the next few years."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version