Bath's squad have formed a five-strong troubleshooting group of senior players to ensure there is no repeat of the drug scandal which has soiled the reputation of the club throughout this year.
The chairman of the Professional Rugby Players' Association, David Barnes, Danny Grewcock, Joe Maddock, David Flatman and Stuart Hooper, held a media conference today when they said the move was the idea of the players who feel responsible for what has happened.
Five former Bath players are serving long bans after drug-related incidents. The prop Matt Stevens is suspended until January 2011 after testing positive for cocaine, the now retired second-row Justin Harrison was last month banned for eight months after admitting snorting cocaine while Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins were this week given nine-month bans for refusing two requests by the club to take drug tests after an investigation into an end-of-season party in London during May.
"As players we look after each other on the field and we have to make sure we do so off it," said Flatman. "We are not going to sit here and blame certain individuals for what happened. That will get us nowhere. We are not going to stop enjoying ourselves after a big victory, but we will all be keeping an eye on each other. The whole point of this group is that if any player feels he has a problem or that there is something he feels should be addressed, he now has the means of bringing it into the open.
"When I was the youngest player at the club, there were senior pros I was scared of approaching. That is totally wrong and the five of us are each in charge of their own group. We have already held some meetings and this was player driven, not imposed on us by the management. The image of the club is our responsibility."
Barnes said the players support the move by Twickenham and Premier Rugby to introduce out-of-competition testing for illicit substances. "I do not think there is a drug culture at Bath or anywhere else in the Premiership," he added.
"As players, we are not different from any other employees in that our contracts have a clause about behaviour. Playing for Bath is a fantastic job and it is about how you conduct yourself off the field as well as on it. We all know what is right and we are determined to ensure there is not a repeat of what has happened this year."
Grewcock, the most senior player in the squad at 36, said they back the club's action over Lipman, Crockett and Higgins, who resigned from their contracts on 1 June after refusing to take drug tests. "It was a difficult situation for the club and they handled it the best they could," he added. "What it highlighted was there was no support system for players and that has now been remedied."
Hooper admitted that the fact academy players have been dragged into the affair is a concern. "The issue of young players is very important and that is why the five of us are each in charge of a small group. We want feedback from everyone and we want everyone to be excited about playing for Bath."
Flatman acknowledged that it would take more than a few victories for the club to salvage its reputation. "Bath has had an excellent community scheme running for a long time, helping kids with aspects like literacy and healthy eating, and I think you will find now that we will all be putting in a bit of extra time rather than putting our feet up.
"We know there may be parents who are concerned about their kids becoming involved with Bath, and we have to stop them doubting. What this group is about is everyone taking responsibility for a great club. The image has been tarnished, but we have learned from mistakes and they will not happen again. It is about looking forward now, not back."
