The 19-year-old player who has been on the fringe of first team selection this year, explained that he wanted to move because he has felt isolated in London, away from family and friends, and that he is looking forward to moving to a new club and, in the intervening two months, to being considered for Siam Cup selection.
‘I’ll be training all this next week with Jersey and I’d like to think that, if nothing else, Dai (Burton) will put me on the bench,’ said Banahan.
‘Bath approached me and, when I spoke to my agent, Nick Maytem, he talked to Brian Ashton, the Bath coach, which means I’ll be under a two-year contract from the first of July.
I’ve left London Irish on a good note; they understood that I was in London, with no real friends or family living there.
‘They told me that they would be sad to see me go, but accepted my decision.
‘My ambition now will be to get into the Bath first team, although I know that Ashton has been linked with the England coaching set-up.’ Banahan added that although he was initially seen as a pack player, in recent weeks London Irish considered him as an outside centre or even winger.
‘So I’m not certain what position I’ll eventually play at Bath,’ he said, ‘but my ambition remains the same.
First of all, to play for the first team.’ Bath, who lost 38-12 to Sale on Friday, are currently third from bottom of the Guinness Premiership, with 41 points.
