Scoring on his home debut for Bath Rugby was a “dream come true” for new signing Henry Arundell.
Henry Arundell scored a try on his home debut for Bath Rugby – against Sale Sharks at The Rec on Friday 3rd October | Photo © Richard Briggs
Winger Arundell showed a trademark burst of electric pace to run in the Blue, Black & White’s first try against Sale Sharks at The Rec on Friday 3rd October, his side going on to win the Gallagher PREM Round 2 game 28-16.
Of his seventh-minute touchdown, which was set up by Ollie Lawrence, Arundell – a former pupil of Beechen Cliff School in Bath – said: “That’s my dream come true for me. My parents were certainly happy.
“I was glad Ollie heard me because I thought he had his head down and was going to run it himself, but he heard me [and passed to Arundell].”
Arundell, 22, acknowledged the quality of the PREM – and he said he will have the same approach this season, regardless of whether he might be in the frame for further England caps.
“The quality is incredible every week,” said Arundell, who spent the past two years with Paris club Racing 92 in France’s Top 14 following a spell with London Irish.
He said: “Before [in the PREM] there were games where you can kind of rotate a lot more, whereas it feels like here every week is a bit like the Top 14, every week is kind of a big battle and going to war again. So you need everyone on it. The whole squad has to be ready for it.
“It’s on me when I get the opportunities to deliver and give my all because I’m joining the best team in the Premiership from last season, so if I want to contribute and we want to go and win it again, I’ve got to do my part.
“[Playing for England] is always part of the ambitions but I don’t control that. My job is to perform here and if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m still going to perform here to the best of my ability. Whatever happens, I’ve got to have the same approach.”
Arundell spending his childhood in Bath means his joining the Blue, Black & White has sent his life full circle.
He said: “It’s quite bizarre. We had a season launch earlier in pre-season and that was a crazy moment seeing young kids running around in Bath shirts knowing that was me when I was 10 years old.
“So I’m kind of having that full-circle moment that now it’s my turn to do what I can on the field so that maybe one day there’s another kid who can fulfil his dream and play for Bath.”
