Head coach Steve Meehan has been rewarded for Bath's excellent start to the season with a two-year contract at the club.

The Australian was thrust into the hotseat at the Recreation Ground in August 2006 following Brian Ashton's sudden departure for the England job.

Meehan had only joined Bath as backs coach from Stade Francais a month earlier and was initially promoted on a temporary basis.

But such has been the transformation in the club's fortunes under his stewardship that he and forwards coach Mark Bakewell and defence and skills coach Brad Davis have now been secured on a long-term basis.

"As a group, we are far from finished, but we are starting to see some great rugby from the players and I'm really enjoying that," said Meehan.

"I'm lucky to work with the group of players and rugby staff at Bath. As a club we are having wins on and off the field and I believe that it is going to continue to be an enjoyable place to be."

Davis added: "I think first of all that I feel I am part of a club moving forward in every direction. Since joining, I have seen a big impact not only on the pitch but off it. As a coach, I am looking forward to developing myself within what is a great coaching staff and group of players and it really is an exciting place to be at the moment."

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