DIRECTOR of rugby Gary Gold believes success in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s is a perfect opportunity for Bath to show that can enjoy a fruitful new season.

Bath needed to beat top-of-the-table Saracens and end their unbeaten run at Allianz Park on the final day of last season to stand a chance of qualifying for the Heineken Cup but lost 23-14.

However victories earlier in the season over eventual Aviva Premiership champions Leicester and 2012 winners Harlequins, both at The Rec, proved Gold’s men were a match for anyone on their day.

Drawn in Group A alongside Exeter, Worcester and Gloucester in the J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s, Bath face none other than their Cherry and Whites rivals at Kingsholm on Thursday, August 1.

And, with the incentive of having the honour of hosting the final on August 9, Gold insists victory in front of a home crowd would be the perfect build up to the start of the new Premiership season.

“Pre-season is what it is and we are working equally as hard as everyone else. We are trying to do things a little differently this year having learnt some lessons from last year,” said Gold.

“We were particularly disappointed with how last year finished but I am excited about some of the new guys that have joined us.

“The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s is another challenge but it’s an exciting one. We all want to participate in it, we are all chomping at the bit but we are also scared that we don’t pick up injuries.

“We are massively privileged that we will be able to host the finals down at Bath and it is something we will be taking quite serious and it will be exciting to unleash some youngsters.

“One of the mantras we tried to bring in last year was if you are going to pull a Bath jersey on, all the things you do will be incredibly important and winning is a habit and we want to breed that habit.

“The 7s in pre-season is such a great game to play when the sun’s shining and we are lucky enough to host the finals, so we are really excited for that at The Rec and hopefully we will be there.”

Bath open the new Premiership campaign with a trip to Kingston Park to face the returning Newcastle Falcons on Friday September 6 in front of the BT Sport cameras.

Gold, returning to the club he was relegated with a year ago, admitted his delight at having his former employers back in the top flight and believes they will be no walkovers this season.

“From our point of view the start is pretty tough. To go on the road up to Newcastle on a Friday night is always going to be a challenge,” he added. “You saw their improvement last year and you know they will be pretty impressive.

“They are a great team and I have a huge place in my heart for them as I spent a couple of months there. They are such a good bunch of guys, so hardworking and it is brilliant to see them back.

“Rugby deserves to be in the north east and Dean [Richards] has done a great job in his first year there and knowing what he has done in the years gone by they will be formidable.”

The final of J.P Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s will be at The Recreation Ground, the home of Bath Rugby, on Friday 9 August. For tickets and more information visit: www.jpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7s