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BATH RUGBY V BRISTOL BEARS

By Bath Rugby

May 7^th, 2021

COACH'S CORNER: STUART HOOPER

Dear supporter,

The disappointment of last Saturday was real and remains real amongst the group – I’m sure that feeling is very much the same with our supporters.

We’ve been through that with the boys and had a decent amount of time to reflect on those feelings. Now it’s about how we learn and get better from the experience.

Our focus returns to the Gallagher Premiership and giving everything we have got for the remainder of the campaign, starting with this weekend’s West Country derby against Bristol Bears.

Unfortunately, it is another game without you but with the names of the Members now pinned to the tunnel at the Rec, we hope it will bring you closer to Bath Rugby than ever before.

Now things are opening up around the city, we are getting to experience your warmth and support even more so than we have seen online over the past year. We would have loved to welcome you back for our game against Sale Sharks in Round 19 and it was the club’s intention, but we were unable to make it happen.

We are delighted that Tom Ellis is set to make his 100th appearance for the club on Saturday. Tom has progressed through our pathway and is an extremely valued member of our squad. He deserves his moment this weekend.

Finally, a huge congratulations to Anthony Watson and Taulupe Faletau on their selection for this summer’s British & Irish Lions tour.

They are both exceptionally talented rugby players and people who have shown great dedication to improve not only their game, but also those around them through their leadership.

Enjoy the game,

Hoops

CAPTAIN’S COLUMN: CHARLIE EWELS

Hi all,

Games always give you the ultimate feedback and unfortunately it was the small margins in last week’s game that resulted in our exit from the Challenge Cup.

Everyone at the club – players and staff – were absolutely gutted and I know the result will have hurt you too. There were hard lessons learned but in knockout rugby, you don’t get the chance to put those lessons into practice for another year.

We had Sunday to reflect individually before returning to training and to a man, everyone’s attitude and application towards training this week has been exemplary in preparation for our West Country derby against Bristol Bears.

It’s another big fixture we know our supporters would love to be in attendance for, but that moment is not far away now. Having you back at the Rec is a huge milestone for us and it’s something we’ve spoken about as players a fair amount.

We have felt all the messages of support for such a long time and as the world starts to open up, we can feel your support even more. We’re grateful for every person who stops us in town to say hello or wish us good luck.

We play this game for the fans and want to be the heartbeat of the city. When we have them back and see faces in the crowd again will give us a massive, massive boost for everyone.

Enjoy the game,

Charlie

VIEW DYSON V11 OUTSIZE HERE

MUIR EXTENDS STAY AT THE REC

Bath Rugby is delighted wing Will Muir has signed a new two-year contract at the club.

The 25-year-old has been rewarded for his hard work and impressive performances since joining the Blue, Black and Whites last summer.

Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper said: “Will came to us on a short-term deal with an opportunity to impress.

“He’s worked incredibly hard in training and then snatched every opportunity in front of him when he’s been on the field, so he’s earned himself a deal for the long-term.

“He’s a very popular member of the squad and is someone who the rest of the squad respect and enjoy playing with.”

DYSON AND BATH RUGBY LAUNCH TRY ENGINEERING

Dyson and Bath Rugby have launched TRY Engineering - a progressive new programme aimed at breaking the barriers which lead to female underrepresentation in engineering and rugby.

The scheme has been designed for girls aged between 14-18 to support the industry-wide challenge of females choosing engineering as a career and to encourage the growth of participation in sport amongst the same group of young women.

The free of charge schools programme, which will introduce over 200 girls to engineering and touch rugby within its first year, launches in seven schools this week and is the first of its kind in the UK.

Offering a series of inspiring learning sessions - designed by Dyson’s leading engineers and delivered by Bath Rugby’s Community Coaches - young women will discover the extraordinary possibilities of engineering in the classroom, whilst experiencing the exhilaration of touch rugby out on the field.

BATH RUGBY DUO SELECTED FOR BRITISH & IRISH LIONS TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA

Anthony Watson and Taulupe Faletau have been named in the 2021 British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer.

The Bath duo were included amongst the 36-man squad announced by Warren Gatland on Thursday.

The 2021 tour will mark Watson’s second outing with the British & Irish Lions, having started each of the three Test matches against New Zealand in 2017. He secured the opening try for the visitors as they sealed as 13-7 win over the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, cementing his place in the XV for the tied test series against the All Blacks.

A member of the senior leadership team at Bath Rugby, with 52 England caps to his name, Watson has appeared over 120 times for the Blue, Black and White since joining in 2013.

Bath and Wales Number 8 Faletau will make his third appearance on tour with the Lions, following his debut for the tourists in the 2013 final Test against Australia; a game which saw the Lions secure their first series win since 1997.

Faletau returned to the Lions four years later, starting alongside club teammate Watson against the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, producing a Man of the Match performance. During the second Test match of the series, he scored the opening try to inspire a Lions comeback, recording a famous 24-21 victory over the three-time World Champions.

Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Ant and Taulupe on your selection!

BATH RUGBY UNSEEN: WATCH NOW

VIEW THATCHERS CLOUDY LEMON

“SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD TO FIND YOUR FEET. I’M GLAD I’M HERE.”

Sitting down pitchside of the training pitch at Farleigh House, Jaco Coetzee takes in the scenery and remembers why rugby plays such an important role in his life.

The easy-going, forever smiling South African grew up in Pretoria before ending up in Cape Town via Durban. He has had a rugby ball in his hand from his nappy-wearing years as a toddler, whether he was running around the garden with his father or away on a camping trip with his parents and siblings.

There is a glint in the eye of the 24-year-old as he reflects on his childhood and it’s clear he has a beautifully close connection with his family.

“My father has always been such a rugby lover so since I can remember I always had a rugby ball in my hand. It started from a young age,” Coetzee said.

“I played rugby in the back garden with my father when I was three or four years old; I wasn’t even at school yet and I just wanted to play rugby. I didn’t know how the rules worked but I just wanted to play! Then I went on to primary school and played what we call Bulletjie rugby in Afrikaans when I was five-years-old.

“I’m very thankful to my parents because they love to travel and I was in every province for holidays; we’d go camping and whilst we were camping there would always be a rugby ball. I’d always make sure I was playing rugby even if I was with my brother back in the time where I was still in nappies! My dad wasn’t too fond of that, but I would actually bully him!

“Although our family has been scattered around the world, my family means the world to me.

"We chat every day; I phone my mum and dad every day. We are quite close even though we’re far away. We always make time for each other and take time out of our days to make sure we talk to each other. My family plays a big role in my life.”

Coetzee’s love of rugby continued throughout his life and in his teens whilst at Glenwood High School, there became a realisation a career could be made from his much-loved hobby.

He went with the flow and was rewarded a contract by Super Rugby franchise The Stormers in 2015 and slowly built a reputation as a powerful defensive back rower with significant attacking capabilities.

A constant Cheshire Cat smile, it would have been easy to assume everything was going swimmingly for Coetzee – playing rugby professionally in his homeland, but he describes the end of his time with The Stormers as a ‘rocky journey’ and sought pastures new.

His calling was Bath Rugby. A fresh start a near-10,000km away by plane. Given his intimate relationship with his family, how did his parents take the news he would be heading to the Rec?

“Things ended in South Africa on a rocky journey for me. My parents saw what happened to me and I just didn’t enjoy my time there anymore.

“When this opportunity came up with Bath, they also had a good feeling in their heart that it would be the right opportunity for me.

"I never stressed about it and had a calmness in myself. They backed me all the way and said it was the place I needed to be.

“When I had to say goodbye to them, my mum couldn’t leave me! They came to visit me in Cape Town the week before I flew to the UK and my mum just didn’t have it in her heart to say goodbye to me. Luckily I didn’t see her on the day I was flying as I flew directly from Cape Town which was much better as I don’t think she would have handled it well! It actually played out nicely to see them for a week before I flew; it was nice family time.

“When I arrived I phoned them straight away after meeting everyone and they could hear how happy I was. They were very happy for me and stoked I’m here. They just don’t like it that I’m so far away from them! Sometimes you have to travel the world to find your own feet. I’m glad I’m here.”

It took a while for Coetzee to have the opportunity to find his way in his new surroundings following an isolation period in a London hotel before travelling to Somerset to reside at Farleigh House.

Since then, google maps has been his tour guide and he admits he had to search Farleigh House online when it was described to him prior to his arrival and can understand why players want to train every day despite the cold weather!

“Everyone was telling me they train at Farleigh House and I thought it was part of the Rec; I had no idea what it was,” Coetzee said.

“I googled Farleigh House and I saw a castle and I was thinking ‘they can’t be training in a castle… this doesn’t make sense!’ and then when I drove in with my agent I was so shocked. The grounds here and the facilities are so beautiful – I was completely shocked. I was literally gobsmacked when I saw the gym, the physio room and how everything operates. It’s unbelievable.

“Now I understand why the guys want to come to training when it’s snowing – it makes sense now! I need to go winter shopping because the winter clothes I’ve brought over are not going to be good enough!”

He added: “Everyone tells me it’s such a small city but every time I'm in it, it feels massive! I think it’s because all the buildings are right next to the road and the roads are so small so I’m not used to it. On my off days or if I’m not too busy after training, I like to go in, grab a coffee and walk around the city centre to just familiarise myself with the place. I still get lost every time so I’m living off google maps!

“When I arrived here on my first day everyone was so welcoming. Everyone is really friendly and has made me feel right at home. I don’t even miss Cape Town that much, to be honest. Definitely the weather but that’s about it!

“It’s actually quite sad experiencing this on my own without Ciska (Coetzee’s fiancé) but it is an awesome opportunity that I have and I’m so grateful for it.”

Ciska is currently back in South Africa and will hopefully reunite with her husband-to-be in Bath this summer. In the meantime, Coetzee is getting in as much Call of Duty as he can while the opportunity presents itself as well as a few rounds of golf with a familiar face in Francois Louw.

Coetzee was introduced to the former Bath man and fellow countryman by another who has donned the Blue, Black and White, Jamie Roberts, and has appreciated his help with the admin side to things during his stay in England so far.

For the young Pretorian, Louw’s guidance and friendship is special given he grew up idolising the 76-time capped Springbok and insists he followed Bath’s progress when he was younger because of ‘Flo’.

“I actually started supporting Bath from that time because Francois Louw was my hero growing up. It’s funny how life works and that I’m following in his footsteps by playing for Bath.

"I always tried to follow them and see how they did. Bath has actually always been my team in a way.

“I actually met Flo through Jamie Roberts. We were very good mates when he was at The Stormers and we were actually roommates. When he found out I’d signed with Bath he set up a meeting with Flo in Cape Town and when I arrived here he helped me a lot with certain things.

“Now we’re sort of golf partners and we go and play golf on Sundays – I’m playing golf with my hero and sometimes I just need to pinch myself! I try not to smile too much so he doesn’t think I’m a weirdo!”

Flo spent over 10,000 minutes representing Bath on the field and developed into a cult hero among the supporters for his unquestionable commitment and consistent performances.

That is now an aim for Coetzee. The Number 8 wants to live and breathe every moment of his time in Blue, Black and White and sees a long future with the club he already holds a lot of admiration for.

“I just want to start enjoying my rugby again and I think I’m definitely at the right place. I just want to make the most of it. I don’t want to be that South African guy who comes here, sees his contract out and then goes back to South Africa.

"I want to make a living here and I want to be one of the top players here in the future. I want to get at least 100 caps, that’s one of my dreams coming here. I want to make it a lifelong journey here.

“Seeing how everything works, seeing how beautiful this place is, I don’t really want to go back! I just want to start playing rugby now and get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

“It’s actually a bit corny but I wouldn’t mind having the same legacy as Flouw – living and playing rugby here for 10 seasons and retiring here in Bath and starting your own company. I think that’s every rugby player’s dream. I would love to live here. I’d love to get my British passport and be able to properly stay here and say I’m a British citizen.

"I love the culture here and love how everything is being done. It’s completely different to South Africa and it’s amazing just to experience it. I want to make the most of it and not just come here for work, I want to make a life here.”

A 60,000-strong Twickenham crowd witnessed a 2019 West Country tussle that was ferocious and physical as Bath Rugby overcame Bristol Bears 26-19.

A Bristol error after a shift in their own end during the first couple of phases was punished by Jonathan Joseph's quick reactions and it seemed to set the tone for the game in the sense of Bristol being adventurous but Bath snapping up the opportunities.

Joseph put a wonderful grubber through for Jamie Roberts to touch down and another surging move saw England wing Joe Cokanasiga bundle his way across.

Indiscipline handed Bristol a route into the game courtesy of Callum Sheedy's boot with three penalties before the break.

Both sides ground away after half-time, and it took Rhys Priestland's smart response to another Bristol error in their 22 to provide the first score of the second period.

Bristol finally got the try their pressure warranted when Dan Thomas raced away on the flank to cross but Bath saw out the game comfortably to ensure a happy trip back along the M4 after a bruising battle.

BATH RUGBY V BRISTOL BEARS

One of the first games fans, players and staff from both sides look for when the fixtures are announced in the summer ahead of the Gallagher Premiership season.

Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears is steeped in history. The duo first met in 1888 in front of a crowd of 700 at the Country Ground, Bristol and over 130 years of rivalry have followed since.

The match was a low-scoring affair – Bath edging a tight contest five points to Bristol’s three – but in the professional era, points and memorable moments have been aplenty.

SEASON SO FAR

Bristol Bears sit top of the Gallagher Premiership after 13 wins and a draw in their 17 games played to date.

Pat Lam’s side have collected the second most points in the division (444) behind Harlequins whilst boasting the second-best defence (307) behind champions Exeter Chiefs.

After losing the opening round against Wasps, Bristol went on a six-match winning run, including an away victory at Exeter, before suffering a February defeat to Sale Sharks.

Thereafter, the Bears cemented top spot with a further seven successes and a draw before Chiefs recorded a deserved 20-12 win at Ashton Gate.

The 2019/20 Challenge Cup winners were knocked out of the Heineken Champions Cup by Bordeaux Begles in the Round of 16, allowing for full focus to be on the league.

Rugby League convert Siva Naulago has dazzled since changing codes, scoring seven tries while Piers O’Conor has crossed for six as well beating 46 defenders and making 21 clean breaks.

In defence, Dan Thomas has made a joint-second 11 Premiership turnovers (the same as Josh Bayliss) as well as 185 tackles (third best behind Zach Mercer).

HEAD TO HEAD

Bristol Bears have had Bath Rugby’s number in five of the past six Gallagher Premiership fixtures.

In that sequence, Bath won 26-19 at Twickenham in the Clash and prior to it, they recorded three wins in a row in 2016/17, including a 57-22 Challenge Cup victory at Ashton Gate.

Before 2016/17, the West Country hadn’t seen a top-flight match for seven years with the Blue, Black and Whites winning twice in the year Bristol lost their Premiership status. It ended a five-game winning run for Bath over their local rivals.

Olly Barkley is top of the points-scoring charts in the fixture with 125 while Rhys Priestland is second with 61. On the Bristol side of those still playing, Callum Sheedy has collected 22 points.

Luke Morahan has crossed for three Bears tries against Bath while Semesa Rokoduguni (2), Jonathan Joseph, Tom Dunn, Zach Mercer, Priestland, Joe Cokanasiga and Will Chudley have all scored for Saturday’s hosts.

ONES TO WATCH

SEMI RADRADRA

A man with plethora of skills, Semi Radradra has lit up the Premiership since joining Bristol Bears last year. The Fiji international, who made his name in the Sevens format, was the sole European Rugby Challenge Cup nominee in EPCR European Player of the Year's final five last season after a stunning season which saw him help the Bears win the second-tier competition.

CHARLES PIUTAU

The blockbuster Charles Piutau joined Bristol Bears from Ulster ahead of 2018/19 season and has further strengthened his reputation as one the most devastating attackers on the planet. The 16-cap All Black can play full-back, wing or centre and was named the Pro12 Player’s Player of the Year in 2017. In his first season with Bristol, Piutau helped the Bears to the highest finish for a promoted side since 2007.

CALLUM SHEEDY

Callum Sheedy's form over the past year saw him called up by Wales in November 2020 and nine caps later, he has added a Six Nations winners medal to his collection. A product of the Bears Academy, the fly-half has amassed over 100 appearances for the Ashton Gate outfit since debuting in 2014.

“PLAYERS WILL ALWAYS READ THE COMMENTS... HAVE A THINK, WHY ARE YOU COMMENTING?”

On 30 April, BT Sport launched a campaign – Draw The Line - to stand against hate speech and abuse on social media.

Social media has had a transformational impact on how we collectively communicate, not just in sport but in society.

However, people are subject to hideous tirades far too often, especially in sport. Referees, players, coaches, broadcasters and social media admins have all been victims of abuse from people they have never spoken to. People they have never met.

“I’ve definitely contemplated deleting twitter a few times,” Bath Rugby wing Ruaridh McConnochie said.

“Sometimes I found it a cesspit and couldn’t see any positive comments coming out of it. I potentially should reconsider and if I don’t feel like I see anything positive coming out of it then I will delete it.

The campaign aimed to address the problem by raising awareness of the impact of online hate and advocating change, as new research commissioned by BT and YouGov shows that over one in 10 have experienced some form of online abuse in the last year and over 1.8 million people have experienced threatening behaviour online in the last 12 months.

There is no doubt, when used correctly, social media platforms can offer an excellent space to share, to inform and to entertain. It has dramatically enhanced the opportunities available to Bath Rugby to engage with supporters and has given players an important platform to share their own stories, opinions, and experiences, especially over the past year throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

When used incorrectly, however, and with the intention to cause distress, it becomes a very different platform. One that can have significantly detrimental effects on user’s mental health, to devastating consequences.

“Players will always read after match stuff and you’ll always see stuff,” McConnochie admits.

“However many fans comment under the club posts saying ‘he wasn’t good enough… why’s he being picked?’. Players do see it.

“Although a lot of players will be completely fine with it and brush it off because it’s just an angry person sat at home on their own in their room venting, others will take it to heart.

“In what other job across the world, that isn’t sport, would you have someone shouting in your ear whilst you’re doing your job, telling you how bad you are, and afterwards messaging you and tweeting about you saying how bad you are?

“If Barry who works in the offices in town had people screaming in his face and telling him he was bad at his job all day, there would be a lot more mental breakdowns around the world!”

As part of BT Sport’s ‘Draw The Line’ campaign, Bath Rugby – as well as many other sports clubs – boycotted all its social media channels from Friday 30 April at 15:00 until Monday 3 May at 23:59, seeking to highlight the growing problem of online abuse and the need to enforce accountability for such behaviour.

Sports fans across the UK were supportive throughout the boycott and McConnochie believes people need to be educated on the effects abuse can have on people, especially young children.

“The main one is education around the effects it can have on people, especially young kids.

"I was very lucky when I was growing up; I was probably in that middle generation where it was the start of social media so I never really had the full effect. I probably got my first Instagram account the first year I joined the Sevens so it is all quite new to me.

“As a young player growing up, you see these other sports stars on Instagram or Twitter with however many followers and they are desperate to be them. But if they see their name slagged off in the comments, it’s just going to have a negative effect.

“That’s just from a player point of view. It’s definitely tougher nowadays with kids going through school. Back when I was at school if there was bullying around, however terrible, people could escape it after school hours, but these kids are going home, going online and they’re getting bullied there. It’s a seriously tough environment.

“I don’t know the right answer, I don’t know the wrong answer, but people need to be educated and the companies that own those social media sites need to be held accountable for any bullying that there is on there.”

McConnochie was brave in speaking about his own personal circumstances on an upcoming Bath Rugby podcast called Tunnel Mentality and has asked people to be wary of how their words may be received.

“Have a think, why are you commenting? What are you getting out of that comment that’s going to change anything? Because the coaches don’t read them!

“It’s purely yourself venting your frustrations at a poor game. Fair enough if you’re angry about us losing then you’re angry but the players are always giving as much as they can; the effort is always there.

“That’s on any side, that’s not just me backing up Bath, this is across any professional rugby side. I do see these comments from other games; you see a game highlight pop up on your twitter feed and the comments are going in at people and you just think ‘what are you getting out of this?’”

It is important online to think before you post. You never know what the person you are messaging is going through in their personal life.

Spot. Report. Support.

For more information on Draw The Line visit bt.com/drawtheline

WEST COUNTRY DERBY WINS FOR BATH RUGBY ACADEMY U16 & U18

After a very disrupted season full of adapting and new challenges with Covid 19, Bath Rugby Academy returned to action on Saturday as both the Under-16s and Under-18s age groups got valuable game time against local rivals Bristol Bears.

The Under-16 Player Development Group were fortunate to be able to finish their season and having not played a competitive game for over a year, the match had a predictably scrappy and frantic start.

Bristol had a large amount of possession in the early exchanges, crossing for two tries after sustained pressure but some outstanding individual moments from James Short and Kacey Pike saw Bath pull level.

As the first half progressed, Bath managed to gain control at the breakdown and not give as many penalties away, allowing them to apply pressure and score two further tries after multiple phases through Charlie Brook and Rory Cameron. Raff Weston’s two conversions meant the junior Blue, Black and Whites led 24-12 at half-time.

With Bristol changing their whole side at half time and Bath making nine changes, to give a wide range of players development opportunities, the second half had a very different flow to it as each side had to feel their way into the game.

Bath were first to strike after moving up the pitch with penalties they built pressure in Bristol’s 22, allowing Weston to use his footwork and strength to break through the defence and score under the posts and add the extras, stretching the score to 31-12.

Bristol clawed their way back into the game with three, showing excellent composure to pressurise Bath’s defence through a combination of keeping the ball alive and dominant ball carries. Bath edged ahead once more as Pike crossed the whitewash in the five minutes and resolute defending resulted in Bath earning a 36-31 victory.

“We’re really thankful to Bristol for accommodating the fixture,” Academy Manager Craig Lilley said.

“The players and coaches have worked really hard all season, developing their skills on and off the training pitch, and the game was a huge reward for the journey they have experienced together.”

Bath Under-18s kicked off shortly after the Under-16s and started well with some superb defensive efforts leading to a penalty.

The forwards built pressure thereafter, squeezing the Bears with a driving maul before Jasper Spandler broke away and fed Freddie Charles with a nice pass to score.

Bristol applied pressure of their following the try but Bath’s defence once again competed smartly at the breakdown to win another penalty which was spiralled deep into Bristol territory.

Another powerful maul, similar to that of the first team, led to several patient pick and goes and Arthur Green eventually muscled to the whitewash for Bath’s second try of the afternoon.

After the break, Bath’s defence proved the catalyst for more points. This time the backs got themselves in on the try-scoring action with a well-worked move and after keeping the ball in the tight, Will Morris squeezed himself over the line.

Bristol had got themselves on the scoreboard but Bath’s relentless attitude saw them stretch further ahead. Nice phase play in the Bristol half saw Tom Bieneman offload to Kofi Barton-Byfield and he turned on the gas to beat two defenders and sail in under the posts.

A consolation for Bears was scored late on but before that, Bath’s Ciaran Donoghue hit a hard line off another backs move in the Bristol 22 and finished beautifully by sidestepping the full-back to round off a pleasing performance.

“We were really pleased with the way the boys performed against Bristol,” Lilley said.

“The Under-18 coaching group have put in a lot of work over the past season, particularly since the first lockdown, and it was great to see so many aspects worked on transfer on to the pitch.

“We exited really well from our own half and were really concise with what we did further up the field in their 22. Our biggest work on is how we can become more accurate with our possession in the middle third of the field.

“Overall we are really pleased and are looking forward to facing Leicester Tigers this weekend.”

Bath Rugby U16: 15. Charlie Brook, 14. Matthew Hall, 13. Rory Crum, 12. James Short, 11. Jack MacLennan, 10. Raff Weston, 9. Ieuan Davies; 1. Ed Patterson, 2. Tommy Baynham, 3. Harry Culverhouse, 4. Andy Eary, 5. Rory Cameron, 6. Harry Bedford, 7. George Timmins, 8. Kacey Pike

Replacements: 16. Ed Wrench, 17. Ollie Bowman, 18. Jack Bennett, 19. Jack Haythornthwaite, 20. Ollie Byrne, 21. Cassian McLoughlin, 22. Jamie Cook, 23. Hugo Marriage, 24. JJ Marlow

Bath Rugby U18: 15. Will Morris, 14. Kofi Barton-Byfield, 13. Ethan Hawtin, 12. Sam Harris, 11. Max Ashton, 10. Tom Bieneman, 9. Freddie Charles; 1. Kobi Joyce, 2. Jasper Spandler, 3. Archie Maggs, 4. Will Jeanes, 5. Josh Dingley, 6. Mackenzie Graham, 7. Tom Ahl, 8. Arthur Green

Replacements: 16. Jac Therrien, 17. Jaden Ephgrave, 18. Paula Fifita, 19. Ben Lamos, 20. Max Jenkins, 21. Ollie Cook, 22. Ben Adams, 23. Ciaran Donoghue

JOIN OUR MARVELLOUS MIXED ABILITY RUGBY TEAM!

Come and join a marvellous Mixed Ability Rugby Team and help to support accessible rugby training for all abilities in Bath and beyond.

Mixed ability rugby has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with more localised clubs popping up across the country each season.

This relatively new but fast-growing team formation does exactly what it says on the tin, it offers individuals of all abilities, from all walks of life, and with a mixed array of sporting backgrounds, the opportunity to access and participate in rugby training and matches with the support of their peers and experienced coaches.

The unique thing about Mixed ability Rugby is that it actively encourages people with special educational needs and disabilities to attend but it is by no means is it a disabled rugby team. If you haven’t experienced it first-hand then the best way to describe it is, ‘a rugby team for all’, no player is classed by their physical, mental or learning disabilities or barriers, and all players share the desire to play regular games of contact rugby. You are welcome to join if you have a disability and you are equally as welcome to join if you don’t!

Our local mixed ability teams are being spearheaded by the coaching team at Bath Rugby Foundation, with teams now establishing and growing in both Bath and Yeovil.

Three years ago, Bath Rugby Foundation joined forces with Walcot RFC to form the wonderful, ‘Walcot Warriors’, after a need was identified for an opportunity that could welcome new players, accommodate experienced injured players and actively encourage people with special needs or disabilities to transition from school rugby to grassroots rugby.

Since then, the Foundation has also worked with Bath Rugby Ladies to form the ‘BLT’s’ and Yeovil Rugby Club to restart, Yeovil Mixed Ability.

BRF and volunteer coaches will go at each participants own pace when they join a team, whether that be giving three or twelve weeks to get up to speed with the rules and workings of the game, it doesn’t matter, everyone is celebrated for their participation and awarded with match time.

Dan Hine, Delivery Lead for Bath Rugby Foundation said: “For the BRF team, seeing parents smile like they do when their SEND children, whom they had previously believed wouldn't be able to engage in regular rugby training sessions or have the confidence to talk to people whom they previously didn't know, is hugely rewarding. Seeing them score tries and then being celebrated for their contribution to the team by their peers and coaches if truly magical, there’s nothing quite like it, it’s when we really know that we are making a genuine and authentic difference to these people’s lives.”

Join a Team - Mixed Ability Training Dates & Times

Whilst numbers are strong at all three of these sessions, new participants are always welcome so if you’ve been thinking about digging out the boots from the garage after years in retirement or if you have the urge to pull on a pair of boots for the very first time then we say do it, you will be made to feel extremely welcome at all of our mixed ability clubs which are open to all aged 16+.

Walcot Warriors – Wednesday’s – 7-8pm - Walcot RFC, Bath, BA1 9BJ

Bath Ladies Trojans – Thursday’s – 6-7pm - Lambridge Training Ground, BA1 6BD

Yeovil RFC Mixed Ability – Every other Friday – 7-8pm - Yeovil RFC, Dorchester Road, BA22 9TR

Bath RFC Girls - U12-U18s - Thursday's - 6-7.30pm - Lambridge Training Ground, BA1 6BD

For more information, please contact callum.pitt@bathrugbyfoundation.com

Project Rugby Update – An Introduction to Rugby - Term 5

So far in Term 5, our Project Rugby Programme, funded by Premiership Rugby and Gallagher, has engaged over 500 young people across BANES and Wiltshire secondary and special schools, with an introduction to the game of rugby. This funded programme enables specialised coaches to deliver rugby in a format that engages a new audience. Many of these young players face barriers such as cost of membership, equipment, and transport to grassroot club training. Through this project we can overcome these barriers by providing these resources and other costs associated with membership.

Through a six-week programme, Bath Rugby Foundation is offering the opportunity for young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to join their local rugby club with transitions so far to Walcot RFC, Bath RFC, Trowbridge RFC, Wells RFC and Yeovil Rugby Club.

To round off and celebrate the successes of the term, we will be holding a COVID secure festival at the Rec, school fixtures at local clubs and the first all-female 15-a-side mixed ability match that will take place between Bath Ladies Trojans and Yeovil Rugby Club.

If you would like your school, college or rugby club to be part of the programme in Term 6 (June/July) or from September onwards, please contact, Arthur.rousell@bathrugbyfoundation.com.

IT’S NOT WHETHER YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN….

Like many of us I suspect, I spent last Saturday evening watching the Montpellier game on the television with the EPCR ticket booking site already open on the laptop, ready to snap up a couple of the few remaking tickets for the Challenge Cup final which hadn’t already been purchased by our friends from Welford Road after the Tigers booked their place with a great second half performance against Ulster the previous evening.

Sadly, despite a brilliant start, some fantastic individual performances (just how many high balls did Anthony take?) and periods of intense pressure on the Montpellier line, we just couldn’t break through the defensive brick wall that the visitors built to secure the second try to send us to Twickenham. Small margins, but unfortunately it meant that after 80 minutes the laptop was shut down with my debit card untroubled!

As supporters, losing any game, especially a European semi-final, generates all kinds of emotions and it’s sometimes easy to forget that the players and coaches go through exactly the same – except magnified exponentially. We know our boys well enough to understand how much that will have hurt and at least we don’t have to pick ourselves up, get back into training and put ourselves into the right physical and psychological shape to take on a very challenging run in to the end of the season, starting with Bristol Bears this weekend.

We all want to win silverware and would have loved to send the players leaving us at the end of the season off with a new addition to the trophy cabinet. However, arguably today’s game is just as important as last week’s. One of the things that sets us apart as rugby supporters is our ability to recognise and give credit to our rivals when it’s due and there is no doubt that the Bears have achieved a huge amount over the last few seasons. Together with the Chiefs they’ve developed a style of play which, whilst it sometimes doesn’t look very much like traditional northern hemisphere rugby, is very attractive to watch and often devastatingly effective. If success in Europe is the icing on the cake, then the proof of the pudding in terms of where we are as a developing team is how we match up to the challenge of the best of our Premiership rivals.

It’s certainly a challenge, but I’m sure the boys will be up for it. I know we will be and as always they can count on our complete and unwavering support, albeit still from afar. But the signs are good – just maybe we can start to think confidently about getting back to the Rec in person again!

On the BRSC front, we hope you enjoyed our April Newsflash with our exclusive catch-up with Francois Louw. We’re already working on the May edition which also has an interview with one of our brightest young talents! It’s that time of year when we start to think about our AGM and we’ll be writing to you shortly about that. There will be some Committee vacancies arising this year so please get involved if you can – your club really does need you!

Vince Lombardi knew a thing or two about motivating elite sportsmen. He once famously said: 'It’s not whether you get knocked down it’s whether you get up'. The boys will be up for this one today and so are we!