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Bateman joins Dragons nine weeks after Leicester pay cut row

01 Sep 2020

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former Leicester prop Greg Bateman has resurfaced at Dragons two months after being one of five Tigers players who refused to accept a permanent pay cut at Welford Road. Three of the five departures secured other clubs not long after leaving. Telusa Veainu joined Stade Francais, Manu Tuilagi was picked up by Sale Sharks while Noel Reid opted to switch to Agen.

That left Bateman and Kyle Eastmond as the remaining two to still sort out their future and the prop has now managed to secure a new club, joining the PRO14 Dragons nine weeks after opting out at Leicester.

The 31-year-old posted a parting message on July 9, saying: “The only appropriate thing to do now is to say thank you to the Welford Road faithful for your support and kindness. Also to the lads for being some of the best teammates and friends in the game.

RugbyPass brings you Dragons Lair, the behind the scenes documentary at the PRO14 Dragons

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RugbyPass brings you Dragons Lair, the behind the scenes documentary at the PRO14 Dragons

“Sorry I didn’t get the opportunity to ride the wave with you all any longer but I leave with friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

Bateman now joins recent new recruits Nick Tompkins, Jonah Holmes and Joe Maksymiw at Rodney Parade. “We’re pleased to welcome Greg to our region and look forward to him making a big impact in our environment,” said Dragons boss Dean Ryan.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEmMtnfMNNU/?igshid=17wy08ds724fd

“He is vastly experienced from his time in the English Premiership and he will intensify competition for places up front while helping our young front row players develop.”

Bateman – who is 5ft 10ins tall and weighs 18st 8lbs – made 92 appearances for Leicester in six seasons at Welford Road. He said: “I’m excited to get started with Dragons. Having spoken to Dean, there is a very clear path and vision for the region and I’m really keen to be a part of it.

“It’s a new challenge for me. I’ve played against lots of Guinness PRO14 teams before and I’m now looking forward to being part of a really strong competition. It’s clearly an exciting time to be a Dragon. You can feel the positivity around the region and I can’t wait to now throw myself into the set-up.”

Farewell from the prop 👏https://t.co/otU5zC3RoF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 9, 2020

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Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Would have been awesome to have a Bledisloe ANZAC game.

It would suck if they had it in Perth every year though. Gotta get it to Eden park.

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Spew_81 1 hour ago

Hurricanes vs Waratahs takes: The yellow wall in midfield, Tahs backs outshined

Love should get some time at 10. He’s clearly got the ability to be a second playmaker, but primarily at 15. Some time at 10, even just standing at first receiver, will only help his playmaking skills. He set up two tries with good distribution.

He kicks goals well. He could be a second B Barrett. But keep his main position at 15.

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SG 1 hour ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

England have absolutely no need for him. Tom Willis and Ben Earl are better with a much higher work rate.

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JW 2 hours ago

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No full games on the IRU YT channel unfortunately, all on subscription? Looks a fairly good level (1A).

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Andrew Nichols 2 hours ago

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Gloucester are in the market for a top-class replacement ..Well why would they then be talking to HS?

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Utiku Old Boy 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

I include Cunningham-South. He was born in England but moved to NZ at 4 yrs and learnt his rugby there. His dad was a schoolboy coach. In recent years, Teimana Harrison was - as was Brad Shields.

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GB 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Cunningham-South was born in the UK but raised in NZ.

Makes a good point, wouldn't walk into the English set up.

Better to roll his sleeves up and play himself into the ABs

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Spew_81 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Not sure what the ethical issue is. If it’s going for the money, it’s either do that or NZ rugby slowly dies as all the better players leave. So it’s the more lesser of two evils. Sell out a bit more as a Union, or the players sell out one by one.

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Spew_81 2 hours ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Yes, the team was similar. But the two locks made a huge difference. Kaino wasn’t a lock and Tuipolutu has only very recently started playing close to his potential (his work rate was terrible until recently).

The Irish lineout maul wouldn’t have been the weapon it was on that day if Hansen started Whitelock and Retallick (or even two proper locks). Though they wouldn’t have been guaranteed to win.

Doing the new haka when the Irish were mourning a great of theirs didn’t help. The action at the end of that haka has been interpreted negatively and some see it as a but disrespectful.

Still if the All Blacks did their normal haka they wouldn’t have been guaranteed to win.

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Koro Teeps 2 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Absolutely no certainty he would make the current English squad. He’s not in the All Black conversation either. Physical, explosive player with ball in hand but sometimes struggles to impose himself fully on all aspects of the game.

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DC 3 hours ago

All Black's England switch hanging by a thread

Who are the Kiwis (plural)? The only one I can think of is Ethan Root.

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Gradier Walter 4 hours ago

Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders