Bath make double signing

Bath avoided finishing bottom on points difference

Final day photos

Bath have celebrated securing their Zurich Premiership survival with a double front-row signing.

Props David Flatman and Duncan Bell will link up with the West Country outfit next season.

Flatman, who has been capped by England, will join Bath from Saracens, while Bell, an England tourist five years ago, will arrive from Pontypridd.

England Under-21 international James Scaysbrook has also pledged his future to Bath by agreeing a contract extension.

His decision is a welcome boost with the club set to lose his back-row colleagues Gavin Thomas and Nathan Thomas to Wales' new regional teams next season.

Match report:
Bath 24-12 Newcastle

Bath went into last Saturday's final league game against Newcastle knowing they needed victory to stay up.

And they produced one of their best performances in recent months, scoring three unanswered tries from full-back Iain Balshaw, wing Tom Voyce and flanker Nathan Thomas.

The capacity 8,200 Recreation Ground crowd and the Bath players erupted with delight on the final whistle as the post-match celebrations began.

"I am a bit lost for words," said Bath coach Michael Foley. "The players were magnificent, and I am thrilled for them.

"We put together some of our best attacking rugby today, and I am ecstatic for them."

Zurich Premiership:
Final day round-up

Foley also paid tribute to the Bath fans for sticking with the team through a difficult campaign.

He said: "They are so loyal to us - we owe the fans a lot.

"The faxes and e-mails that we have received have been incredible, and the players are fully aware of how much support they've had."