British and Irish Lions

Flatman's deal will see him through until the end of the 2008/09 season, and it follows team-mate Olly Barkley's decision to pen fresh terms earlier this week.

Flatman, capped eight times by England, joined Bath from Saracens in 2003, but his Recreation Ground career was hampered by injury problems until he regained full fitness midway through the current campaign.

"Hopefully now the bad times are behind me. You cannot thrive on negative feelings, so you have to look to the future," he said.

"I am feeling very positive and I believe that I am now opening a new chapter in my rugby career."

Bath coach Brian Ashton added: "David has already played at international level, and I have no doubt that had he not sustained his Achilles tendon injury he would have already played on many more occasions for England."

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.

Check out the video from the day the HSBC Cubs met The British & Irish Lions at the Vale of Glamorgan in a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.