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BATH RUGBY V NEWCASTLE FALCONS

By Bath Rugby

December 29^th, 2022

DYSON V15 DETECT ABSOLUTE VACUUM

VISIT THATCHERS

CAPTAIN SPENCER IS HERE TO STAY

England international Ben Spencer has committed his future to the Blue, Black and White!

The 30-year-old has excelled since arriving at The Rec from Saracens in 2020 and is an integral part of Johann van Graan’s squad.

“Since I arrived at Bath, Ben has stood out as a true leader, dedicated to succeed with this club,” the Head of Rugby said.

“He leads by example through his actions on the field and is a superb communicator amongst the group. He has the ability to run a game from scrum-half and with the exciting players we have around him, we have no doubt he will continue to be a significant member of our squad for years to come.”

READ THE FULL STORY

UNDERHILL IS BLUE, BLACK AND WHITE

England international Sam Underhill has extended his stay with the Blue, Black and White!

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the leading flankers in the country over the past five seasons since making his international debut.

He joins fellow back rowers Alfie Barbeary, Josh Bayliss, Chris Cloete, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill and Miles Reid in committing themselves to the club for next season.

READ THE FULL STORY

REDPATH EXTENDS STAY AT THE REC

Scotland international Cameron Redpath has signed a contract extension!

The 23-year-old becomes the latest Bath player to pledge his future to the club with Alfie Barbeary, Tom Dunn, Ted Hill, Will Stuart and Sam Underhill all recently committing to the Blue, Black and White.

“After a difficult couple of years with injury, Cam has shown how exciting a talent he is this season,” Head of Rugby Johann van Graan said.

READ THE FULL STORY

FRONT ROW DUO COMMIT FUTURE TO BATH

England international duo Tom Dunn and Will Stuart have committed their futures to Bath Rugby!

On the renewal of the front row pair, Head of Rugby Johann van Graan said: “We are really pleased both Dunnie and Will have committed themselves to Bath Rugby.

“Dunnie loves Bath and is an integral part of the club; he bleeds Blue, Black and White. He epitomises what it is to be a Bath player through his hard work and dedication. He has been fantastic to work with since I arrived in July and has provided great leadership on and off the field.

“Will is a proven Test player and one of the best tightheads in England. I’ve been really impressed by his drive and his hunger to develop his game and achieve things with Bath. I’m really looking forward to him continuing his journey with us; he is very much part of our long-term future.”

READ THE FULL STORY

WELCOME TO BATH RUGBY, FINN RUSSELL!

Just before Christmas, Bath Rugby confirmed Finn Russell will join the club after the 2023 Rugby World Cup!

The Scotland and British & Irish Lion international's playmaking ability and excellent kicking game have seen him become one of the most lauded players in the northern hemisphere. He will join a Bath squad which has already seen recent recruits Ted Hill, Ollie Lawrence and Alfie Barbeary commit for the long term.

“Finn is a world-class player who will significantly add to our squad on and off the field,” Head of Rugby Johann van Graan said.

“To be able to attract players of Finn’s quality to Bath Rugby is a credit to how far we have come as a club and a group since 11 July.

“We look forward to welcoming his experience, leadership and expertise to the Blue, Black and White.”

READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT

THE RECCY: THE FINAL ONE OF 2022

Why do birds fly south for the winter? Because it’s too far to walk!

And Bath Rugby will be welcoming a flock of Falcons to The Rec this Saturday in our last game of 2022.

If you are joining us to begin your New Year's celebrations in style, here is what we have in store!

FROM 13:00

Happy Hour
Festive fan village – mulled wine and mulled cider!
Return of the pasty
Live music from The Shadow Monkeys
Food and beverage
Bath Rugby Foundation raffle
Matchday ambassadors
Your journey sorted with Centurion Travel

FULL RECCY

VISIT TRIBUTE

YOUR RED CAR

BAYLISS ON HIS PRIDE OF REPRESENTING BATH RUGBY

If you have ever met Josh Bayliss, you will know how much of a top man he is.

He is someone who always has a smile on his face, has time for everyone and gives his all on the pitch. The ultimate Bath man.

Last weekend at Exeter Chiefs, he became the first of his Academy group to reach 100 games for the club.

His family were all in the stands and several of his friends were in the matchday 23. It was a special day.

Bayliss said: “Whilst it wasn’t the result we wanted on Saturday, it was an incredibly special moment for me to make my 100th appearance for this club.

“To have my family in the stands was a great feeling. They have supported me throughout the whole journey and without them, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve as much as I have in my career to date. They sacrificed a lot when I was younger and I’m extremely grateful.”

The Scotland back row added: “To share the journey in the pathway with a number of players who have also represented Bath means the world.

“It’s a really special place and it’s been my home for a long time. It gives me immense pride to put on the Blue, Black and White, and to have close friends alongside only intensifies my desire to do well for the team.”

Bayliss was in the Academy when Bath last reached a final in 2015 and a year later, he debuted for the senior side for the first time in the LV= Cup.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster since with great highs but a fair amount of lows too. Right now, Bayliss and his team are looking forward.

There is a positive feeling around Farleigh House and a renewed focus on how to improve each week, influenced by Head of Rugby Johann van Graan, as Bayliss explains.

“There’s no denying last season was a tough one for everyone involved. It may be cliché, but we’ve had to take the learnings, draw a line and try to progress so we can take Bath back to the top end of the Premiership.

“Johann has come in and added an emphasis on starting on zero each week no matter the result on the week. We review on a Monday morning and take those learnings on into the next game. I believe it’s helped us not to dwell and helped us improve our performances.

“Whilst the results haven’t gone our way of late, it’s important to recognise the improvements we have made this season and that we are going in the right direction.

“We’re on a journey where there will be ups and downs, but we’re all pulling in the same direction and we’re in it together.”

Bayliss will be joined by fellow Scot Finn Russell next season after it was confirmed the British & Irish Lion would be heading to The Rec after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The 30-year-old is one of a number of players to recently commit their future to the Blue, Black and White, and while Bayliss is excited by what is to come, the former Millfield student is determined to finish this season in the strongest fashion possible.

“The future is exciting. I’ve played with Finn at Scotland and he’s a brilliant player and a great person to have in the group. He will add a different dimension to our game and will complement the likes of Spenny, Ollie and Cam.

”As a forward, it’s part of my job to provide him and the backs a platform to play. But before then, we just need to concentrate on improving week by week this season so we can win as many games as we can and finish as high as we can.”

"THIS IS MY HOME" - DUNN

There’s no place like home.

Bath Rugby end the calendar year at home, at The Rec, against Newcastle Falcons and one of the club’s homegrown, most-appreciated and much loved players is staying ‘home’ for a few more years.

Tom Dunn bleeds Blue, Black and White. He loves Bath Rugby, he loves the city, he loves the people. That is why he has committed his future to his boyhood team.

It would be weird to think of Dunn in another jersey, representing another team and he very much feels the same as he looks forward to a fruitful future with the club.

“Why would I want to go anywhere else?” he said.

“This is my home. The club has been good to me and I love representing a place that means a lot to me and my family.

“I would be lying if I said the past decade has been plain sailing, it hasn’t. There have been some really tough moments, but at the end of the day the love for the club and the city is still there. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“We have a good thing going at the moment. We are taking things week by week but slowly making progression. We are heading in the right direction and the future looks bright.

“I’ve been pretty open about not wanting to end my career with Bath without a trophy; I feel we are on the right trajectory to achieve success.”

While the world says goodbye to 2022 on Saturday, the Round 14 Gallagher Premiership match with Newcastle represents the final opportunity of the year to say thank you to the Bath faithful.

The supporters, who have experienced a turbulent year supporting their team, have been magnificent, something Dunn recognises.

“As a supporter of the club myself, I know what Bath Rugby means to people in the city and across the region.

“I would like to thank every single one of them for sticking by us and remaining on this journey with us. Hopefully we can share success and a pint together in the coming seasons over a trophy.”

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ACTION: BECOME A MATCHDAY AMBASSADOR!

Our matchdays at The Rec are regarded one of the best in the Premiership. From the atmosphere in the fan village, to the cheering that echoes around the streets of Bath as the Blue, Black and White crash over the try-line – you are part of it all.

With a new Head of Rugby and a plethora of new player signings, we wanted to extend the introduction of new incentives to our dedicated supporters; Bath Rugby’s matchday ambassadors are another new addition this season.

BATH RUGBY SUPPORTING LOCAL POLICE IN IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN

A Bath Rugby matchday is an occasion for the whole city. Whether you're watching the game at The Rec or you've travelled into Bath to watch in one of the many pubs and bars.

Our fixtures see thousands of supporters flock from all over B&NES, Wiltshire and beyond to watch their team run out come rain, snow or shine.

Bath Rugby want to make sure it is doing all it can to ensure the full matchday experience is a safe space for its supporters and wider community, and this includes the journey into the city.

In a project to tackle violence against women and girls in the South West area, the club has joined forces with Avon & Somerset Police and British Transport Police to promote their campaign to put a stop to harassment.

Launching the initiative last summer, British Transport Police have outlined some of the ways in which you can be an active bystander, whereby you can safely challenge unacceptable behaviour on a matchday and when travelling into Bath.

CLUB STATEMENT ON UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO JOIN PREMIER 15S

The RFU has named eight teams which have been successful in their application to join the 10-team Allianz Premier 15s league from 2023/24 at the tender stage. The RFU has also confirmed that other teams will have the opportunity to join the Allianz Premier 15s at a later stage in the application process, or in a subsequent season, with participation of teams in the league not formalised until Spring 2023.

Bath Rugby applied to enter a new professional women’s team in the next cycle of the Allianz Premier 15s, commencing in November 2023
The RFU today confirmed that Bath Rugby has not been successful at this tender stage
The club is considering its options – which include subsequent approval to join the 10-team league in 2023/24, approval to join the Allianz Premier 15s in a future season, and submitting an appeal on the outcome of this tender process
The club continues to invest in the women’s and girls’ game driving participation across the region, having also launched a regional Pathway and the first Bath Rugby Women’s Sevens team in summer 2022

Following the news, Bath Rugby Chief Executive, Tarquin McDonald, said: “We are very disappointed with the outcome of the tender process.

“We pledged our commitment to the women’s and girls’ game in May 2021 and since then we have invested over £250,000 into women’s and girls’ rugby, delivering on that pledge and putting in place the foundations for the launch of our professional women’s team.

"This includes the appointment of dedicated staff, led by Maria Crowfoot our Women’s and Girls’ Development Lead. In 21/22 we launched six hubs across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire engaging over 500 girls aged twelve to eighteen. In 22/23 we launched a women’s pathway partnership with Bath College together with the launch of the first Bath Rugby Women’s Sevens team in late summer 2022 to provide a player pathway to competitive rugby.

“Our commitment to the women’s and girls’ game across our region is undiminished, and our ambition continues to be professional men’s and women’s sides playing their games at a newly developed Rec, in the heart of Bath.

“We are considering our options including a formal appeal on this outcome.”

Over the past 18 months Bath Rugby has developed a strong partnership with Bath Rugby Ladies (part of Bath RFC) who compete in the second tier of the women’s game, Championship South 1. Bath Rugby Ladies have played in three double header fixtures following men’s Gallagher Premiership matches at The Rec.

This work has been led by the Club’s Women’s & Girls’ Development Lead, Maria Crowfoot who also oversees the University of Bath Women’s teams and has been instrumental in setting up the Pathway partnership with Bath College and the launch of Bath Rugby Women’s Sevens team. She commented: “Our position and desire to grow the game within our region does not change following this disappointing news.

"We will continue to invest in our grassroots and pathway rugby including Bath College, University and our links with Bath Rugby Ladies. Continuing to offer opportunities for girls in the region to flourish and develop skills to hopefully see them represent a professional Bath Rugby women’s side in the near future.”

BATH RUGBY 30-13 NEWCASTLE FALCONS

16 February 2019

Joe Cokanasiga’s acrobatic first-half score helped Bath Rugby continue their impressive 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership form and avenge a pre-Christmas defeat to Newcastle Falcons with a bonus-point win at The Rec.

Falcons defeated Bath 16-8 at Kingston Park in Round 8 but an efficient performance in the West Country meant the hosts had lost just one of their last five league games.

Conversely, Newcastle had lost nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions and conceded three first-half tries to Semesa Rokoduguni, Cokanasiga and Will Chudley before Francois Louw secured the try bonus late on.

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Nathan Catt, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Luke Charteris, 6 Elliott Stooke, 7 Francois Louw, 8 Zach Mercer

Impact players: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Paul Grant, 21 Max Green, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Ruaridh McConnochie

Newcastle: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Pedro Bettencourt, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Michael Young; 1 Sam Lockwood, 2 Kyle Cooper, 3 David Wilson, 4 Calum Green, 5 Andrew Davidson, 6 Will Welch, 7 Gary Graham, 8 Nemani Nagusa

Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Jack Payne, 19 Will Witty, 20 John Hardie, 21 Sonatane Takutua, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Ben Stevenson

VIEW RILEY ENGLAND

RILEY 30 SECOND CHALLENGE

Max Ojomoh and Lewis Boyce took on the Riley 30 Second Challenge. Do you think you would pot more than them?

THE OPPOSITION

Despite being one of the lower scoring teams in the league, Newcastle possess great threats on the wings and also offer physicality up front.

Adam Radwan and Mateo Carreras have helped enormously in terms of their metres gained tally and defenders beaten, but they have been busy in defence too with the second most amount of tackles and penalties conceded.

The Falcons are a strong team on turnover ball, using their speed to counter teams which may be evident when they visit The Rec.

Newcastle have won on their last two visits while Bath have defeated them in their last three trips to the North East.

ONE TO WATCH - MATEO CARRERAS

Carreras has scored some scintillating tries this season. The Argentine wing has crossed seven times for Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership, with two in particular worthy contenders for 'Try of the Season'. He has made over 250 metres to date this season, helped by electric speed and he has wicked step too. A tough man to defend.

MEET BYRON LLOYD-GILMOUR

School: Marlborough College

Club: Salisbury RFC

Position: Wing

What have been your favourite moments in the Bath Rugby pathway?

Playing Newcastle during Under-18s finals week and winning whilst scoring in the corner as well.

What are your dream goals in rugby?

To play internationally in the World Cup.

What do you get up to outside of rugby?

I enjoy hanging out with my mates whether that involves going to the driving range and hitting a few balls around or just going for a meal in town with the boys after training.

Who has had the biggest impact on your development?

My parents who have supported me throughout my rugby career through taking me to training. Especially my dad who has coached me all throughout my life and has taught me most of what I know about rugby. Further credit must go to my pathway coaches who have taken their time to have meetings with me and go through extras.

What do you want people to say about you at the end of your career?

At the end of my career, I want to be a name to remember and known for my ball playing ability whilst dotting a few tries down along the way. I also want to be known as a player who gives 100% whilst on the pitch and is fully dedicated to their trade, who is hopefully someone the younger players would be able to look up to.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE CHALLENGE!

Well it is the festive period so we couldn't let the players get away without doing anything Christmasy, could we?

Who are you backing between Miles Reid, Sam Underhill and Kieran Verden to make the best Gingerbread House?!

LOOKING AHEAD TO 202

As we leave 2022 behind, everyone here at Bath Rugby Foundation would like to say a huge thank you for your generosity and support this year. The work we do would not be possible without the time and money our volunteers, donors and supporters give to us and we are forever grateful for the each and every one of you.

Looking ahead to 2023, our work will continue and we have some incredibly exciting projects and events coming up that we'd like to tell you about.

FOUNDATION DAY - 18 February

At every Bath Rugby home matchday at The Rec, our volunteers come out to give fans a chance of winning signed Bath Rugby merchandise and donate to the Foundation at the same time.

On 18 February, a whole matchday will be dedicated to telling our story to help raise awareness and in turn, raise funds for vulnerable and challenged young children across B&NES.

If you would like to be part of our Foundation Day when Bath Rugby take on London Irish on 18 February, tickets are available now!

GET YOURS HERE

ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNERS - 27/28 April

Our annual fundraising dinners are one of our most hotly anticipated events in the Foundation's calendar. Allowing us to reach out to donors, partners and other generous community members who fund our work here at the Foundation, the evenings are always a roaring success.

If you'd like to be part of our fundraising efforts through purchasing a seat at one of our dinners, we'd love to have you with us. The evenings feature a raffle, an auction, a threes-course meal and a night full of entertainment.

Our dinners in 2023 will be held on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 April. To enquire about an individual place, or to purchase a full table, please email Emma Samways who will be more than happy to tell you more.

ENQUIRE TODAY

MIXED-ABILITY CUP - 29 April

The competition on 29 April will be a festival-style celebration of mixed-abiity rugby, bringing the community together no matter what your rugby talent.

Hosted at Walcot RFC, the event will be a family fun day, complete with food outlets and live music.

More details on the Mixed Ability Cup will follow very soon. For now, why not learn more about mixed ability rugby? You might even want to enter your own team into the competition!

LEARN MORE

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BRSC!

For all dedicated Bath Rugby supporters Christmas morning isn’t complete without some Blue, Black and White gifts under the tree. Maybe a new scarf and bobble hat, a beer glass or if you’re lucky, a replica shirt.

This year we must have been good boys and girls given the early Christmas presents the club has bestowed on us. A glut of high-profile re-signings would normally be enough for the greediest of us. The news that Finn Russell is moving to Somerset exceeded what most of us would have dared to put on our letter to Santa.

During a year where optimism and confidence hasn’t always been in ready supply, we should congratulate the club for taking us into 2023 with renewed excitement and expectation.

Among all this good news, we share the club’s disappointment that the application for the 2023/24 Allianz Premier 15s was unsuccessful at tender stage. At BRSC, we have recently affirmed our commitment to both Bath Ladies and the development of the professional women’s game. We know how much commitment and hard work has gone into developing the women’s game and hope that this set back is only temporary.

Back to the here and now. With all the positive future news swirling around the club, it’s easy to forget that over the last month wins have been in short supply. Last week’s narrow defeat to Exeter Chiefs typified the improvements we have seen this season, only to fall agonisingly short. Whilst disappointed at the final whistle, the numbers of Chiefs fans who told us ‘you should have won that’ as we walked out of Sandy Park proved that our stock is rising, and results will surely follow.

All the very best for 2023 from all at BRSC. Let’s hope that today bucks the trend for results in December and we can welcome the New Year as we intend to go on: by winning games!