Bath sign New Zealander Dan Bowden from Auckland Blues

Bath have signed former Leicester and London Irish back Dan Bowden.

The 29-year-old New Zealander will arrive from Super Rugby franchise Auckland Blues in January, Bath coach Toby Booth confirmed after their 21-14 victory over Worcester at The Rec on Sunday.

Bowden's arrival will further fuel speculation that Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland could play for Wales after all this season.

Priestland was expected to take an 18-month sabbatical from Test rugby, beginning with the Six Nations Championship that gets under way in early February.

But the signing of Bowden, who can play at fly-half or centre, suggests Priestland may yet feature in international rugby this season, with Bath also set to be without England No 10 George Ford during the Six Nations campaign.

"Dan is a very intelligent player," Booth said. "From a 10/12 point of view, you want as many ball-players as you can.

"He is an obsessive sort of player. What I mean by that is he has a massive thirst for knowledge and thirst for the game, and he will drive people's preparation to be at the same standard as his. I think he is arriving in early January.

"We have got a lot of young backs, so the more we can fast-track their knowledge, then hopefully we can move the progression of the group that little bit better."

Asked about Priestland's situation, Booth added: "It is not the reason we have recruited Dan Bowden. We had an opportunity to specifically recruit him."