Tuesday 5 December 2017 18:01, UK
Josh Bayliss, Tom Ellis, and Elliott Stooke have all signed new contracts with Aviva Premiership side Bath.
Flanker Ellis and second-row Stooke have stepped up from the club's academy into the senior ranks over the last couple of seasons and they will be joined in 2018 by England U20 international Bayliss, another back-row star in the making.
Bayliss has impressed in limited first-team exposure this season and is looking forward to stepping up to the senior ranks next year, with the 20-year-old saying: "I've learnt a huge amount in my time with Bath so far.
"I know this is absolutely the best place for me to grow as a player. I've got some world-class players to look up to and learn from in the likes of Francois Louw, Matt Garvey and Taulupe Faletau.
"The coaches really put faith in you as a young player to go out and perform. We have the coaches' full backing, and that belief really helps you focus on learning and performing to the best of your ability."
Ellis played regularly last season and performed well enough to secure a place in England's summer touring squad, but the 23-year-old was hurt during that tour and is yet to play this campaign.
He said: "It's been a frustrating season for me so far being injured, but I've been working hard in rehab and with physios and strength and conditioning coaches have been great.
"I didn't really think twice about renewing my contract here - I love the environment at Bath. Like most players, I have ambitions to play for my country, and I know being here will help me achieve those."
Stooke, 24, is closing in on 50 senior appearances, and he added: "There's a lot of emphasis placed on developing us as individual players as well as a team, and you know that you'll be given the opportunity if you get your head down and work hard.
"I'm still relatively young, and definitely have more to give, and I'm in the right place to make sure that I can do that."
