THE Cornwall Rugby Football Union's Rugby Development Officer, Mr Frank Butler, is to join Bath Rugby Football Club as head of their new rugby Academy. He will take up his duties within the next month.

Frank, whose playing career was with Camborne RFC, has been looking after the youth of Cornish rugby since April 1991 when he took on the then new post of youth development officer.

Since then he has progressed to running the combined Cornwall/England academy, which was then the first rugby academy set up in this country and was very much a new innovation to the game.

Since its inception Frank has seen around 24 youngsters progress to gain international status at some level, including Phil Vickery and Trevor Woodman, Ollie Berkely and Adryan Winnan.

The Cornwall RFU wishes to publicly thank Frank for all his efforts and hard work over the last ten years, and realise he will be very difficult to replace.

However, for at least the next four months Mr Mike Bratt will assume the responsibilities of the role of RDO for the county, until such a time as a successor is appointed.

Mike has been player/coach with St Just RFC, as well as a youth coach, and has worked closely with Frank Butler within the academy structure in the county, as well as being the under 20's coach for several years. Mike can be contacted at RFU RDO, Cornwall Outdoors, Unit 6, Threemilestone Industrial Estate, Threemilestone, Truro TR4 9LD. Telephone 01872 324661 Fax 01872 324334.

The Cornwall Rugby Football Union wishes Mike every success for the future and feels that as he has previously worked alongside Frank Butler for a long period, he has the necessary experience and will know how to carry out the duties required of him.