'Special talents' - Powerful young prop signs new contract with Bath Rugby

Mammoth 19-year-old England U20s prop star Vilikesa Sela has put pen to paper on a new deal to extend his career at Bath Rugby, the club have officially confirmed.

Tighthead prop Sela is a product of Royal Wootton Bassett RFC and Beechen Cliff School, and only signed his first academy contract with the Blue, Black and White ahead of 2023/24, but he has had a rapid rise since, helping England U20s win the Six Nations and then U20s World Championships this summer before earning his Gallagher Premiership debut earlier this season against Leicester Tigers.

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With England in a state of transition at tighthead, with Kyle Sinckler unavailable for selection while playing in France and Dan Cole now 37, Sela is being closely monitored and was initially selected to be a part of the England A squad to face Australia XV this weekend before a shoulder injury in Bath's 78-19 win over Bristol on Saturday ruled him out.

However, with a trio of international tightheads currently ahead of him at Bath in the form of England's Will Stuart, South Africa's Thomas du Toit and Wales' Archie Griffin, Sela will test himself against some of the best players in world in training week-in, week-out.

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan, said: “Vilikesa made his Premiership debut earlier this season and I am delighted that he will be playing for Bath Rugby in the future. Since his arrival at the club, it was evident to me that he has got some special talents. The impressive thing about Vilikesa is his mental toughness and willingness to work hard.”

Sela is currently studying a Foundation degree in Sports Performance at the University of Bath.

Committing his future to the club, Sela commented: “I’m proud to be staying here at Bath. Coming up through the ranks of the academy and growing up close by, I’m glad to call Bath home. I have a great group of people around me at the club and I’m excited to be a part of the journey.”