Joe Batley signs new Worcester Warriors contract

Joe Batley has signed a new contract with Worcester Warriors, keeping him at the club until the end of the season 2022/2023.

The 24-year-old former England youth international joined Worcester from Bristol Bears ahead of the 2020/21 season - initially signing a one-year deal - having spent the previous campaign on loan at Leicester Tigers. 

Batley has made ten Premiership appearances for Worcester thus far this term, and scored his maiden league try for the club during their defeat to Bath on 20 March 2021.

I am delighted that Bats has re-signed. I worked closely with him before  at Bristol so I know him pretty well.

Warriors Head Coach Jonathan Thomas

“He’s gone through some adversity in his life but he has always had huge potential and it has been about him having an opportunity to fulfil that potential.

“He came here on a one-year deal and he had a couple injuries early on but recently he has been playing every week and he has shown what a quality player he is.

“Most importantly his versatility has been invaluable to the team. In the last three weeks he has played six, eight and five.

“Bats is a big man, he’s athletic, he’s got good skills and he is very powerful. He also knows that there is a huge amount of growth left in him.

“We were determined to keep Bats because we didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity for him to continue the great work he is doing and to continue his development.

“We really feel that he can become one of the best players in his position. He’s still a young man and he hasn’t played a huge amount of consecutive games so the challenge for him is to keep growing and improving so that he fulfils his potential.

“Off the field he’s a huge personality. The players love him. He’s great for team culture, he drives standards and he leads the lineout.

“So it’s the man off the field as well as the man on the field. This can be a serious business and Bats is an energiser, a ball of fun if you like, which is what you need.”

The Gloucester academy graduate has battled back from cancer to reignite his professional rugby career, having been diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin's Lymphoma and undergoing six months of chemotherapy treatment at the age of 21. 

The reason I came here to start with is because of Jonathan Thomas and Mark Irish, who I worked with at Bristol

Joe Batley

“I have got a really good relationship with them and I feel like they have grown my game massively. Matt Sherratt has also improved my attacking game so it is a really good fit for me.

“I have enjoyed getting to know the boys, being part of the team and I know that we have a big future if we can keep improving the way we are. If we can keep doing that then the results will turn.

“It was frustrating for me that, after a massive lockdown, the first opportunity I had to play rugby again, I got a toe injury. It was in an awkward place and I was unlucky but no I am kicking on, playing in different positions and I am really happy here.”

Batley has also represented England at Under 18 and Under 20 level, and was part of the England side who finished as runners up at the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.