Bath's new captain Luke Watson says Leicester Tigers are still expected to win the Premiership despite several new signings arriving at the The Rec.

Amongst others Bath have signed two ex-Tigers in Lewis Moody and Sam Vesty, along with Scotland's Simon Taylor.

Watson told BBC Points West: "I think Leicester, before the squad's announced, are traditional favourites.

"They're very experienced and a great team and are deserved winners and champions for many years now."

Watson continued: "But we're not going to compare ourselves to Leicester, we are Bath and play the way we do.

"We play a different style, a different brand and we want to continue to focus on our strengths and eradicate the weaknesses."

It's a massive honour as Bath is a club with a lot of tradition and pride and to be part of that is a huge privilege Luke Watson on captaincy

The 26-year-old has taken over the Bath captaincy from fellow Springbok Michael Claassens for this season and is looking forward to the job.

"It's a massive honour as Bath is a club with a lot of tradition and pride and to be part of that is a huge privilege, " he said.

"Anyone could have been captain. There were a number of candidates running for it. If someone else would have been captain it wouldn't made any difference.

"Maybe they've given it to me to add some extra pressure and responsibility and be more serious in training."

Bath managed to finished fourth in the league last season after a remarkable turnaround in form after Christmas.

In the first half of the season Steve Meehan's side won just once in 11 games but followed that up with 10 wins in 11 in the second half.

"Ideally we would like to continue with some of the momentum and form we gathered at the end of last season," said Watson.

"If we can improve on the first half of the season hopefully we can do even better this season."

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