FREE-SCORING Kiwi winger Joe Maddock will join Bath next season

Maddock, known as 'Mad Dog', links up after two years at Super 12 outfit Canterbury Crusaders, with Bath hoping he will fill the void left by the loss of Iain Balshaw.

Director of rugby Jack Rowell said: "Wingers with a proven strike record at the highest level are a rare commodity.

"Therefore we are delighted to have signed Joe whose try scoring record of nearly a try a game both in the Super 12 and NPC competitions speaks for itself.''

Maddock made his debut in the Crusaders' championship-winning 2002 season, having been a clinical finisher in the 2001 Canterbury side that won New Zealand's NPC competition.

The 25-year-old wing is uncapped by New Zealand but has represented New Zealand Maori and has bagged 25 tries in only 31 provincial and Super 12 games.

Maddock joins Sale scrum-half Nick Walshe, who signed last week, through the Rec 'in' door.

The club have confirmed that coach Brian Smith has left to take up a post in Japan, while fitness guru Mike Yates has also gone.

Meanwhile, Bath will begin the 2004-05 Premiership campaign with a trip to Northampton Saints on September 4.

The first home game comes a week later, with Jonny Wilkinson's Newcastle Falcons the visitors.

Gloucester start at Leeds and host London Irish at Kingsholm a week later, with the season shortened so as not to overlap with the Lions tour to New Zealand.

BATH & GLOUCESTER FIXTURES 2004-05

(Premiership unless stated, subject to change)

September 4: Leeds Tykes v Gloucester, Northampton Saints v Bath; September 11: Bath v Newcastle Falcons, Gloucester v London Irish; September 18: Northampton Saints v Gloucester, Worcester Warriors v Bath; September 25: NEC Harlequins v Bath, Gloucester v Newcastle Falcons; October 2: Bath v Gloucester; October 9: Leicester Tigers v Bath, Gloucester v NEC Harlequins; October 16: Worcester Warriors v Gloucester, Bath v London Wasps; October 23: European Cup round one; October 30: European Cup round two; November 6: Leicester Tigers v Gloucester, Saracens v Bath; November 13: Bath v Sale Sharks, Gloucester v London Wasps; November 20: Leeds Tykes v Bath, Saracens v Gloucester; November 27: Bath v London Irish, Gloucester v Sale Sharks; December 4: European Cup round three; December 11: European Cup round four; December 18: Powergen Cup round six; December 26: Sale Sharks v Bath, London Wasps v Gloucester; January 1, 2005: Bath v Saracens, Gloucester v Leicester Tigers; January 8: European Cup round five; January 15: European Cup round six; January 22: Powergen Cup quarter-finals; January 29: Gloucester v Worcester Warriors, London Wasps v Bath; February 5: Bath v Leicester Tigers, NEC Harlequins v Gloucester; February 19: Gloucester v Bath; Feburary 26: Bath v NEC Harlequins, Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester; March 5: Powergen Cup semi-finals; March 12: Bath v Worcester Warriors, Gloucester v Northampton Saints; March 26: London Irish v Gloucester, Newcastle Falcons v Bath; April 2: European Cup quarter-finals; April 9: Bath v Northampton Saints, Gloucester v Leeds Tykes; April 10: Powergen Cup Final; April 16: Sale Sharks v Gloucester, London Irish v Bath; April 23: Heineken Cup semi-finals; April 30: Bath v Leeds Tykes, Gloucester v Saracens; May 7: Zurich Wildcard Semi Finals, Zurich Premiership semi-final; May 14: Zurich Wildcard Final, Zurich Premiership Final; May 21: European Cup Final