Bath's players were up and on the road little more than 12 hours after securing their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as they headed to Spain for a winter training camp.

The club's England and Saxons men Michael Lipman, Lee Mears, Nick Abendanon and Matt Banahan were not on yesterday's early morning flight, while long-term injury casualty Danny Grewcock has also missed the strength and conditioning trip.

And fly-half Butch James, who has started 17 of his side's 20 matches so far this season despite playing throughout the summer for South Africa, has been given two weeks off.

But the rest of the squad will spend the week in Seville with the club's strength and conditioning and medical staff.

Head coach Steve Meehan, who flew to Brisbane for a brief working holiday last night, said: "In the past we have used this break in the season to go on a rugby camp, then come back for a week of normal training before a game.

"But we have never won that first game back – and we have never played well – when we have done that.

"So we have done things a bit differently this year and the players have gone with the strength and conditioning and medical teams, as well as the team manager, for a week of non-rugby training."

Meehan believes fly-half Ryan Davis, who has not played since October 2007, will return to action by mid-March after a series of knee operations – and expects the 23-year-old to play a key role during this week's camp in southern Spain.

"Ryan is doing very well and he was back on the training field last week," said Meehan. "He is taking part in certain activities again now and he would probably be ready to step up his training, rugby-wise, this week.

"So maybe the timing of this camp is not great for him, but that's just the way it is. We still expect him to be back on the field by mid-March, which would be good timing. It would give us the opportunity to rest Butch if need be, and I have got absolutely no doubt Ryan is a very fine player."

Meanwhile, Bristol have confirmed that both winger Anthony Elliott and general manager Corin Palmer have left the club.

The Western Daily Press reported two weeks ago how Palmer was on his way out of the club as part of a top-level reshuffle.

And Bristol confirmed yesterday that he had left "as part of a significant cost reduction programme."

Chief executive Steve Gorvett said: "Given the current very difficult economic conditions, we are having to look at all areas of the business to reduce costs and we have therefore reluctantly had to part company with Corin."

England Sevens star Elliott, 27, has left Bristol "by mutual agreement" having made just 12 appearances for the club since joining 18 months ago.