The 28-year old second row is in his second stint with the Bears after playing for the club for 30 months from 2017. He rejoined five years later after stints with Leicester and Worcester and has established himself as one of the mainstays of the side.
He has started all except one of the Bears’ last 26 Premiership matches, the blow-out against Newcastle at Ashton Gate last April when he was rested, and has started the season in rampaging form with Bristol topping the table after four rounds.
“We were very disappointed after losing at home to Gloucester, but bounced back against Bath and Exeter,” said Batley. “To get to where we want to be in June, we have to put in the hard work now. There is no easy game in this league and you have to always be on it.”
Bristol are unbeaten away from home in the Premiership in 2024 with Sale, Leicester, Harlequins and Bath among their victims.
Denne historien er fra October 20, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra October 20, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Newcastle can't live with Bath late show
GREAT rugby teams know how to win even when they aren't firing on all cylinders, and league leaders Bath highlighted their quality with a late comeback to keep their hopes of a domestic double alive on Friday night.
Larkham delight as Brumbies rule
BRUMBIES coach Stephen Larkham had a tear in his eye at full-time and compared his side's victory at the Blues on Friday to being as rare as playing the British & Irish Lions.
Falcons flyer on the crest of a wave
ELLIOTT Obatoyinbo is hoping he can ride the crest of Newcastle's wave and return to the sort of form that he showed when he first arrived on Tyneside two-and-a-half years ago.
Stade are willing to fight for Gustard
STADE Francais' billionaire owner hinted last week that head coach Paul Gustard's reported move to Leicester may not be quite as cut-and-dried as sections of the British press have suggested.
Freeman deserves run on centre stage
THE England midfield has been a mishmash of failed partnerships, wishful thinking, hap-hazard revolving-door selection, injury disruption, and endless frustration for followers of the Red Rose for the best part of 20 years.
We must pull together to grow game - Baxter
ROB Baxter believes that the responsibility for growing rugby both financially and in terms of interest falls on the entire game, not just individual clubs.
We need to play for the full 80, says Daly
ELLIOT Daly has urged England to put their foot on Italian throats today and keep it there in finally delivering a Six Nations statement performance at Twickenham.
Scotland survive spirited Wales revival
SCOTLAND - so accomplished for the first 50 minutes but so miserably poor for the final half hourmade heavy weather of beating a Wales team that refused to go quietly.
Robinson praise for cross-league rivalry
ANDY Robinson has spoken about the positive experience of playing Championship clubs in what looks set to be the final season of crossleague rivalry.
Tykes get revenge as Lymm crushed
TABLE-toppers Leeds Tykes cemented their position at the summit of National Two North with a crushing victory over Lymm at The Sycamores.
