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BATH RUGBY V HARLEQUINS

By Bath Rugby

January 27^th, 2022

Welcome from Tarquin McDonald

Hello and welcome to Round 14 of the Gallagher Premiership. A massive fixture under Friday night lights at the Rec against the current league champions Harlequins.

Tonight, marks the first game of a six-week Premiership block which falls at the same time as the international window. This always impacts teams across the competition, with Quins missing key players such as Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt and Joe Marler. At the same time, Charlie Ewels, Orlando Bailey and Will Stuart joined this week’s England camp. We wish them luck as they work hard to progress towards the Six Nations. Cameron Redpath has also spent time this week with the Scotland contingent and as you can see from our team sheet, he’s made the journey back to the West Country excited to play for us tonight

Ahead of tonight’s match, we provided a full injury update. Jonathan Joseph and Will Muir are confirmed alongside Will Spencer and Mike Williams, who have recovered following minor injuries against Leinster. We welcome new short-term signing Nathan Hughes to the No.8 shirt, with Jaco Coetzee available off the bench, which is fantastic to see following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Jonathan Joseph’s availability for tonight’s game means we celebrate a significant milestone being his 150th appearance for Bath.

As I’m sure you know, we are now halfway through the season, with 12 Premiership rounds and knock-out Challenge Cup rugby ahead of us. Our performances and results so far this season have fallen short. No one at the club is accepting of this, and whilst there is no magic solution for the weeks ahead, I can tell you that everyone at the club fully recognises how hard this season has been for you and that everyone is working incredibly hard to turn our performances around and get some wins and momentum in the second half of the season. Squad availability for training and matches will be an important part of this, and we look forward to welcoming more players back to match fitness over coming weeks.

At the same time, we have recognised the need to make changes. In the current season, our owner Bruce Craig has relinquished his role as Chairman, and we have added experience and expertise with Edward Griffiths appointed to the position. We have also brought on board Brent Janse van Rensburg as Defence Coach for this season, and he continues to work with the coaches and players to impact performances.

Looking ahead to next season, we recently announced our senior squad coaching unit for 2022/23 which includes Johann van Graan as Head Coach and JP Ferreira as Defence Coach, together with Neal Hatley as Forwards Coach and Luke Charteris as Line-Out Coach. We will also shortly be announcing a new Attack Coach for next season.

It’s unusual to be in a position where significant changes to the coaching team are announced with such a long lead-in time to the new season. This provides an opportunity for planning and alignment between the current season and 2022/23. At the same time, Johann and JP Ferreira continue at Munster, and we are respectful of their responsibilities and objectives for the rest of the season with the province.

Change is not always easy and announcing a new coaching unit for 2022/23 means that for some of our current coaches there aren’t roles in the senior squad coaching group next season. In this respect, I want to pay huge thanks to David Williams, Mark Lilley and Ryan Davis, who are all working incredibly hard every day, are outstanding men and are massively committed to the club.

In terms of broader Premiership news, you may have seen the announcement that ITV will be broadcasting a number of free-to-air live fixtures and a weekly highlight show through to the end of the 2023/24 season, commencing this weekend with Sale Sharks’ fixture against Leicester Tigers. The Premiership Final will be included as one of the live fixtures being broadcast each season. This is an important milestone for Premiership Rugby in terms of increasing viewership and access to the game.

On a separate note, I was deeply saddened to learn this week that Richard Seaman had passed away after a long illness.

Richard’s off-field contribution to the club’s operations and stadium management, and as a long-standing member of the club’s Management Committee, was recognised in May 2018 when Richard joined Peter Hall, Tom Hudson and Dave Robson in being inducted to the Club’s off-pitch hall of fame.

My thoughts and those of everyone at the Club are with Richard’s family and friends.

Returning to the club and tonight’s fixture at the Rec. Thank you as always for your continued support, and I hope we make you all proud with our performance.

Best wishes

Tarquin.

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COACH'S CHECK IN: NEAL HATLEY

In this week's Coach's Check In with Compeed, Neal Hatley discusses the arrival of Nathan Hughes on loan as well as Jonathan Joseph's impact at Bath Rugby with the centre set for his 150th appearance.

WELCOME TO BATH RUGBY, NATHAN HUGHES!

England international Nathan Hughes joined Bath Rugby on loan from Bristol Bears earlier this week.

The Number 8 brings both physicality and power to the pack with a number of players in the back row unavailable.

On his arrival, Head Coach Neal Hatley said: "We are delighted to secure Nathan's services - he is a destructive ball carrier and provides critical cover throughout the international window.

"I have been fortunate enough to work with him at international level. His experience and attributes, both as a person and a player, mean we are all looking forward to seeing him perform and making an impact for the Blue, Black and Whites."

BATH RUGBY INJURY UPDATE

Bath Rugby can provide an injury update ahead of Friday’s Gallagher Premiership match against Harlequins.

Jonathan Joseph and Will Muir are fit and will start the match with Mike Williams also in the side after coming off against Leinster. Will Spencer, who also left the field against the Irish province, is on the bench while Jaco Coetzee is back in the 23 after recovering from his injury sustained back in November.

Tom Dunn, Taulupe Faletau, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Ethan Staddon and Richard de Carpentier will all return to training in the coming weeks following their respective injuries.

Lewis Boyce, Miles Reid, Valeriy Morozov, Johannes Jonker and Tian Schoeman are continuing to progress with their rehabilitation programmes, while Beno Obano and Anthony Watson are progressing well with their knee rehabilitation.

Ruaridh McConnochie met with a specialist this week following the injury he picked up against Leinster. He has begun his rehabilitation.

Sam Underhill, Josh Bayliss and Danny Cipriani are going through their individual Graduated Return to Play protocols.

VISIT YOUR RED CAR

ROAD TO 2023/24: WOMEN AND GIRLS

In May this year, Bath Rugby unveiled the club’s commitment to the growth and sustainability of the women and girls’ rugby in the region.

Since the announcement, there have been several exciting developments that will help guide the club through the three-year roadmap culminating in an application to the Allianz Premier 15s. The following four transformational objectives were established in May, which will need to be achieved by the 2023/24 season.

PLAY - To double the number of registered players across our region, supported by the appointment of a new Women’s Rugby Development Lead

SUSTAIN - To develop a sustainable and inclusive pathway to the elite game across our region for players and coaches; achieved through partnering with clubs, schools and universities, and supported by the appointment of a new Pathway Lead

PERFORM - To form a professional women’s team, partnering with Bath Rugby Ladies, with the ambition of being ready to join the Allianz Premier 15s in the next licence cycle

PROMOTE - To promote female role models and raise the profile of the women and girls’ game across our region, leveraging the club’s marketing and communication channels and those of our commercial partners to effect positive change

Read about the three-year strategy

WAKEFIELD TRAINS WITH WALES WOMEN

In May 2021, Bath Rugby unveiled its commitment to the growth and sustainability of women and girls’ rugby in the region.

With that promise, the Blue, Black and Whites partnered with Bath Rugby Ladies (part of Bath RFC) to with a view of developing the performance systems, facilities and infrastructure to support the launch of a professional women’s team for the next Allianz Premier 15s licence cycle in 2023/24.

Speaking at the time of the announcement, Bath Rugby Ladies wing Bethan Wakefield said:

“If we can get young girls playing rugby and they can see what they can achieve and believe they can get to a Premiership level and beyond that Premiership level, that’s what’s needed.

“That will be great for Bath. Bath has such a great rugby history and if it can be seen to be supporting the women’s game as well, that’s incredible.”

Wakefield has been allowed to flourish on the field and her performance in Bath Rugby Ladies’ victory at the Rec over Supermarine Ladies back in October saw her score a try in front of 3,000 people on her birthday!

She has become one of the starring players in the Championship South 1 and last week earned a call-up to a Wales Women’s training camp as a result.

Head Coach Ioan Cunningham named a 42-player squad for the camp which took place between 21 and 23 January with Wakefield one of eight uncapped women selected.

As well as proving fantastic moment for herself, her friends and family, the deserved call-up is an incredible milestone for Bath Rugby and Bath Rugby.

Well done, Bethan!

JONATHAN JOSEPH: 150 IN BLUE, BLACK & WHITE

Bath produced an excellent first-half attacking display to brush aside Harlequins in the Premiership.

The home side secured the bonus point after just 20 minutes as Paul Grant, Freddie Burns, Elliott Stooke and Matt Banahan went over.

Henry Cheeseman pulled a try back for the visitors before the break, before two Burns penalties extended the lead.

Gabriel Ibitoye went over for Quins in a less exciting second period, before Josh Lewis got two Bath penalties.

BATH RUGBY V HARLEQUINS

Last time out in the Premiership, Bath Rugby got a ‘monkey off the back’ according to Orlando Bailey after securing their first win of the season against Worcester Warriors.

The fly-half will be unavailable for this Friday’s match with Harlequins due to his England commitments. Charlie Ewels and Will Stuart will also miss the game for the same reasons, but Cameron Redpath is set to be involved despite spending the week with Scotland.

Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper commented 29 players were unavailable in total for the European clash with Leinster Rugby and whilst that number is still high, the Blue, Black and Whites have Will Muir, Jaco Coetzee and Jonathan Joseph as options again.

The latter will make his 150th Bath appearance under the Rec lights, nine years after debuting in a 21-0 away win at Newcastle Falcons.

Full preview

HEAD TO HEAD

Whilst the last 10 Premiership outings are split evenly in terms of wins (five apiece), Harlequins have been victorious in the last three encounters.

Bath’s last win over Quins came in the 2019/20 season as they recorded the double over the Twickenham-based outfit.

In those two matches, Ruaridh McConnochie accumulated a four-try tally while former Quin Lewis Boyce also crossed the whitewash.

The former is the highest try scorer in the two fixtures amongst the current squads with Marcus Smith - unavailable due to England duty - has 51 points.

ONE TO WATCH: LOUIS LYNAGH

Wing Louis Lynagh is subject to a three-way international battle with Australia, England and Italy all able to select the 21-year-old.

He was called up to Eddie Jones’ squad in September 2021 but remains uncapped despite his club form.

Lynagh scored two late tries in Harlequins’ Premiership final triumph over Exeter Chiefs last season and also crossed in the semi-final in the comeback win against Bristol Bears.

The son of rugby legend Michael, Lynagh has a total of 13 tries in 22 Premiership encounters with a further two scores in four in Europe.

BATH RUGBY UNSEEN | EP20: JONATHAN JOSEPH - 150 IN BLUE, BLACK & WHITE

In episode 20 of Bath Rugby Unseen, we celebrate centre Jonathan Joseph's 150th appearance for Bath Rugby with his teammate Max Ojomoh and Max Clark commenting on his impact.

FARLEIGH COMMUTE EPISODE 1

A look back at the first episode of Farleigh Commute....stay tuned for episode 2 with Max Ojomoh and Gabriel Hammer-Webb dropping this weekend exclusive first to NextGen member.

U18S FALL TO LATE DEFEAT AT QUINS

Academy Manager Craig Lilley believes Bath Rugby Under-18s will learn a lot from their late defeat against Harlequins.

The junior Blue, Black and Whites held a 21-10 lead going into the closing stages but three Quins tries in 10 minutes turned the result on its head to win 31-21.

Bath started the contest on the front foot and opened the scoring on 15 minutes. A strong catch and drive saw the visitors make 15 metres into the Quins half and centre Sam Harris hit a blistering line to canter underneath the posts.

Number 8 Jonathan Smith replied for Harlequins, going over after a classy run from Ludo Kolade and the missed conversion was all that separated the teams at the break.

The line-out has been functioning well for Bath this season and it allowed the away side to pile on the pressure. With advantage in hand, Byron Lloyd-Gilmour almost went over after swift hands but back for a penalty, Bath kept things tight and Ieuan Davies sent George Timmins tumbling home.

Quins’ response was immediate as Seb Driscoll benefitted from a fast-moving maul but another pick and go try for Bath - this time from Scott Kirk - made it 21-10 in the final quarter.

Unbeaten in their games so far, Harlequins showed why they are a hard side to beat and rallied in the final 10 minutes. Smith grabbed his second with Kolade and Sean Kerr completing the turnaround.

“I’m really proud of the way the lads played against an impressive Harlequins side,” Lilley said.

“We played some smart rugby throughout, were physical in defence and created excellent opportunities.

“To lose the game in the manner we did will be a great learning for the players. They have the opportunity to ask questions of themselves and can use the next two weeks to figure out the answers ahead of a West Country derby against Gloucester.”

BATH RUGBY U18 TEAM TO PLAY HARLEQUINS U18

15 James Redman (Beechen Cliff School | Walcot RFC), 14 Byron Lloyd-Gilmour (Marlborough College | Salisbury RFC), 13 Will Parry (Sherborne School | Henley Hawks RFC), 12 Sam Harris © (Millfield School | Hertford RFC), 11 Max Ashton (Beechen Cliff School | Chippenham RFC), 10 Raff Weston (Beechen Cliff School | Walcot RFC), 9 Ieuan Davies (Millfield School | Neath Athletic RFC); 1 Eric Nixon-Castillo (Millfield School), 2 Max Pearce (Millfield School | Chippenham RFC), 3 Billy Sela (Beechen Cliff School | Royal Wootton Bassett RFC), 4 Eddie Erskine (Millfield School | Dorchester RFC), 5 Max Jenkins (Millfield School | Reeds Weybridge RFC), 6 Jack Haythornthwaite (Beechen Cliff School | Chew Valley RFC), 7 George Timmins (Millfield School | Market Harborough RFC), 8 Arthur Green © (Sherborne School | Frome RFC)

Replacements: 16 Tommy McLean (Beechen Cliff School | Bath RFC), 17 Scott Kirk, 18 Jaden Ephgrave (Beechen Cliff School | Chippenham RFC), 19 Abdul-Khalik Akenzua Al Kareen (Downside School | North Dorset RFC), 20 Harvey Matthews (Beechen Cliff School | Bath RFC), 21 Ollie Byrne (Beechen Cliff School | Wimborne RFC), 22 Rory Crum (Beechen Cliff School | Bournemouth RFC), 23 Kamoto Kamanga-Dyrbak (Millfield School | KCB Kenya)

BATH RUGBY FOUNDATIONS AWARDED HEALTHY HEART GRANT

National charity Heart Research UK has awarded Bath Rugby Foundation a Healthy Heart Grant supporting ‘Mindest Matters’. An important programme that focuses on increasing children’s understanding and awareness of their mental and physical health to give them all the tools they need to live healthier lives.

Figures show that obesity is a significant problem in 10 and 11-year-olds in Bath and North East Somerset, with rates exceeding 50% among children with disabilities. If not addressed early, obesity is a problem that often follows a child into adulthood.

Mindset Matters exists to provide a safe space for primary age children to learn how to understand their emotions, practice mindfulness strategies and increase their awareness and knowledge of their mental and physical health and nutrition.

To support this, Bath Rugby Foundation has partnered with Bath-based Meditation Rocks and the Bath office of Irwin Mitchell to produce engaging videos and other creative resources that teach meditation techniques to children.

Meditation Rocks founder Lucy Stone commented, “Finding ways to look after our mental health and wellbeing is such an important life skill, and we are never too young or old to learn. With all the challenges the modern world presents us with, finding ways to find some calm, perspective and focus in our day is extremely helpful; perhaps a 5000-year-old practice has never been needed more.”

‘Mindset Matters’ is a six-week education programme targeting primary schools in deprived areas of Bath and surrounding areas. The schools participating have been selected based on their pupil premium percentage, absence ratings and the number of children with special educational needs on record.

To find out more about Mindset Matters, contact Bath Rugby Foundation’s School Delivery Officer, Alex Randall alex.randall@bathrugbyfoundation.com

TRAVELLING TO WATCH BATH IS ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE

The difficulty with international travel of all kinds is just one of the many practical problems we have all been faced with over the pandemic.

This includes travel to support Bath Rugby and it is not lost on me that the last time I was on a plane was travelling back from France after a trip to watch Bath play Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel-Michelin.

I was reminded of how much I love away trips to Europe to support Bath when the club posted a photo on Twitter with some of the squad with the very few intrepid souls who had travelled to La Rochelle. When we spend a lot of money and time on these trips, seeing the familiar faces in Blue, Black and White (or this season, grey) coming to say hello means a lot. And there is a special frisson of excitement when walking around a foreign city and hearing a West Country accent and on turning, seeing someone clad in Blue, Black and White.

One of the most memorable evenings was in Toulouse in January 2015, when we beat the French giants 35-18. Heading out into the cold evening, hardly believing what we had seen, we spent the night in what could euphemistically be called a ‘bistro’ (but was really an old-school French bar rarely seen these days) surrounded by grizzled Toulousians, carafes of red wine and the kind of rustic French food that dreams are made of.

Excitement, drama and memorable moments seem to follow me around when away supporting Bath over the years. There was the cancelled match against Toulon in 2015; we went to France anyway. There was the other Toulon trip when our flight was cancelled because of high winds and we had to hotfoot it to Marseille in the middle of the night to get home. Flying to Clermont, there was a medical emergency on the plane and we had to turn back to Bristol. I saw paintings by Monet for the first time when we travelled to Paris to play Stade Français.

When I went to Dublin for a match against Leinster it was Easter, so nowhere served alcohol. There was the day trip to Venice where I spotted Bath fans around every corner; it one of the most surreal days of my life. As chaotic as these trips sometimes are, I hold their memory very dear and I count myself lucky that I have been able to take them.

Travelling to watch Bath is always an adventure. Let’s hope that before long, we will be fortunate enough to back abroad supporting Bath Rugby- glass of wine in hand.