JOSH Bayliss is tipped for great things in professional rugby but when he goes on to achieve his dreams, there is bound to be a place to hang his picture on the wall at Lydney RFC’s clubhouse and his gran’s house in Aylburton.

The 21-year-old back-row forward signed a first team contract with Bath last summer, has captained their second team, Bath United, on several occasions, broken through to the senior side and was the Premier Rugby Cup’s Breakthrough forward in the first week of this season.

He also has an international rugby pedigree which indicates a big future in the red rose jersey of his country. Bayliss helped England to a Six Nations Grand Slam at Under-20 level in 2017 and was also a team member during their run to the World Rugby Under-20 Championship final.

Whatever he achieves, the youngster, who is learning his trade from British Lions and southern hemisphere legends at The Rec, can relate his rugby back to a family odyssey that has the Forest of Dean at its’ heart.

When time allows, he visits his gran Frances at her home in Aylburton, which is where his rugby roots really originate from.

For his late grandfather David was a Lydney RFC legend, a giant of a man who played in the second row.

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