By David Bollands Last updated: 16th September 2008
Ashton: New coaching role
I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the University of Bath in the role of a consultant director of coaching.
Brian Ashton.
Quotes of the week
Former England coach Brian Ashton has agreed a deal to become the new director of coaching at the University of Bath.
Ashton, who took England to the final of the World Cup, declined the offer to coach the national academy after Martin Johnson's appointment as team manager.
The 62-year-old has strong links with the area after two stints at Bath Rugby, and will now work with athletes - including the likes of Jason Gardener, Craig Pickering, Katy Livingston and Georgina Harland - and coaches at the university.
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the University of Bath in the role of a consultant director of coaching," said Ashton.
"There are many talented, high-level performance coaches and athletes who operate in the university's sports training village and I am looking forward to working alongside them to ensure that all set standards that are testing and provide competition success."
Director of sports development and recreation Ged Roddy believes that the capture of Ashton was a significant coup for the university.
"Our university sports family at Bath fielded medal winners at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and Brian's appointment will strengthen our elite performance line-up," he said.

England 6-19 New Zealand - Highlights
England v New Zealand
England 6-19 New Zealand - Johnson
England 6-19 New Zealand - Moody
England 6-19 New Zealand - Carter
Corry - England are regressing
Worcester 12-12 Bath - Gillies
Women visit School of Hard Knocks
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Guinness Premiership | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Sale |
| 15:00 | Saracens vs Wasps |
| Friday 27th November | |
| 19:45 | Sale vs Wasps |
| 20:00 | Newcastle vs Northampton |
| 20:00 | Worcester vs Saracens |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| 15:00 | Harlequins vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Leeds Carnegie |
| 17:35 | Bath vs London Irish |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Worcester |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Bath |
| 17:35 | Saracens vs Sale |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs Leicester |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| 14:15 | Bath vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Sale |
| 15:00 | Worcester vs Northampton |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Saracens |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Leeds Carnegie |
| 16:00 | Harlequins vs Wasps |
| Friday 1st January | |
| 15:00 | Sale vs Harlequins |
| 15:00 | Saracens vs Leicester |
| Saturday 2nd January | |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs London Irish |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Bath |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Worcester |
| Result |
|---|
| Guinness Premiership |
| Saturday 21st November |
| Guinness Premiership |
| Northampton 26 - 17 Harlequins |
| Friday 20th November |
| Worcester 12 - 12 Bath |
| Gloucester 12 - 9 Leicester |
| Sunday 1st November |
| Newcastle 14 - 3 Worcester |
| Wasps 9 - 15 Leeds Carnegie |
| Saturday 31st October |
| Leicester 29 - 15 Northampton |
| Harlequins 9 - 9 London Irish |
| Bath 11 - 12 Saracens |
| Friday 30th October |
| Sale 28 - 23 Gloucester |
| Sunday 25th October |
| Saracens 21 - 15 Leeds Carnegie |
| Saturday 24th October |
| Gloucester 6 - 35 Wasps |
| London Irish 18 - 12 Leicester |
| Northampton 21 - 16 Sale |
| Worcester 22 - 26 Harlequins |
| Bath 16 - 27 Newcastle |
| Sunday 4th October |
| Leeds Carnegie 10 - 26 Gloucester |
| Wasps 20 - 15 Northampton |
| Newcastle 15 - 22 Saracens |
| Saturday 3rd October |
| Harlequins 13 - 11 Bath |
| Leicester 19 - 14 Worcester |
Jason Robinson is hoping that England come out against New Zealand and throw caution to the wind.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry told the Rugby Club England will not get an easy ride at Twickenham.
Read what Sky Sports' experts and bloggers have been talking about over the last seven days in sport...
Saracens maintained their 100 percent Guinness Premiership record as they clinched a 22-6 home victory over London Wasps on Sunday.
London Irish's title hopes were blown off course at the Madejski Stadium as they went down 15-11 to in-form Newcastle.
Sale Sharks overturned a 14-point second-half deficit to stop Leeds' resurgence in its tracks.
Brendan Venter was full of praise for Saracens after they notched their eighth straight win with a 22-6 success over Wasps.
England flanker Joe Worsley tore medial ligaments in his right knee in the opening minute of the 19-6 defeat to New Zealand.