Bath coach Neal Hatley approached by RFU, Mike Ford confirms

Bath coach Neal Hatley has been approached by the Rugby Football Union, Mike Ford has confirmed.

Hatley joined Bath in 2012 as a first-team coach with a focus on the scrum and the former London Irish prop still has three years remaining on his contract, but Bath head coach Ford will not stop him joining Eddie Jones' staff.

"There's nothing sorted, they've just approached us. I'm pleased for Hats," Ford told the Bath Chronicle. "Obviously, he's been recognised for his work here over the last three or four years.

"Just like a player playing international rugby, he has ambitions as well. He's a fantastic coach. The players love him, they really do.

"Scrummaging is his forte, but he's done the defence for us this year and the contact area as well. It would be a big loss for us if he left, but an opportunity for me to have a look at our coaching set-up and the roles and responsibilities in that.

"With every door that shuts, another one opens."

Hatley would be the final piece of the puzzle in Jones' coaching staff, joining Paul Gustard and Steve Borthwick as Ian Peel finished his interim role as scrum coach after a successful Six Nations campaign to join Saracens.

The RFU has not yet commented on Hatley's future, but Sky sources understand Bath and the governing body are in talks.