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DIGITAL PROGRAMME: BRISTOL BEARS (GP: R6)

Friday 17 November 2023

By Bath Rugby

November 16^th, 2023

TEAM NEWS

Beno Obano and Will Stuart retain their prop jerseys, with Tom Dunn completing the front row selection.

Charlie Ewels remains consistent in the second row, seeing Fergus Lee-Warner also named in an unchanged pairing.

Miles Reid and Sam Underhill remain on the flanks after an impressive performance against Gloucester last week.

Jaco Coetzee comes into the starting pack at Number 8, with Alfie Barbeary moved to the bench.

Ben Spencer captains from scrum-half, partnered by Finn Russell at 10.

Scottish international Cameron Redpath comes back into the fold to join England international Ollie Lawrence in the centre. Lawrence scored two tries on his return to the Blue, Black and White jersey last week in Bath Rugby’s win over Gloucester.

Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga remain on the wings, with Matt Gallagher coming in at full back to complete the starting XV.

Thomas du Toit will use his versatility in the front row to switch to replacement loosehead this week. Johannes Jonker and Niall Annett complete the front row replacements.

After a spell on the side lines, GJ van Velze has been named on the bench alongside Barbeary.

Van Graan names a five-three split for this fixture, seeing Louis Schreuder, Orlando Bailey and Max Ojomoh named as replacement backs.

DIGITAL PROGRAMME: BRISTOL BEARS (GP: R6)

"IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE NEED THAT LEVEL OF DEPTH," - SAM UNDERHILL

Following his man-of-the-match performance for England against Argentina which helped Steve Borthwick’s squad secure third-place at the Men’s 2023 Rugby World Cup, Bath Rugby’s Sam Underhill was straight back in action for the Blue, Black, and White.

A close defeat against Northampton Saints followed by a dominant win at Gloucester Rugby sees Sam preparing for his third Premiership game of the season – his first at home – since returning from France. And it’s another local derby to get the blood pumping in the evening.

“(Friday night under the lights) adds to that intensity,” he said. “I remember playing a close game [against Bristol] at The Rec a few years ago, it is special. It means an awful lot, especially to the fans, you can see that speaking to past players and fans and people who have been around the club for a long time.”

The Bears game will be Sam’s third consecutive start and he knows the competition for places is fierce with the trust within the squad that Johann van Graan is building.

“One thing Johann is massively keen on is having as many people ready to play and playing as much as possible. We're all here to play rugby and he's keen on the lads getting gametime on loan or on rotation. It also shows a level of trust in the squad with the rotation going on. If we're going to be successful, we need that level of depth.”

Two teammates that Sam highlights as having started the 2023/24 campaign in a rich vein of form are Will Muir and Thomas du Toit, thanks largely to their physical attributes matched with their desire to study the game.

“Will Muir is a big bag of spanners,” joked Sam. “He just looks horrible to tackle. He's a very humble man, a very hardworking man, very diligent with his training and he's been phenomenal.”

“Thomas [Du Toit] is really professional, obviously a big man but also a very talented rugby player, a very smart rugby player and a nice guy so it's been good to see both those guys do well.”

With a third of the league season almost completed, Sam believes this year will feel more intense than previous ones given the block of games that are coming thick and fast despite there being fewer teams.

“The season will go quite quickly, by the time the Six Nations roll around, there will be six games left of the year. It will feel intense because of the proximity of the games to one another, and the standard is higher especially with fewer clubs [in the Premiership] and players getting picked up to improve their squad,” he added.

“We speak about consistency; we want to be successful not because we got lucky in a few games or because we've turned up in a few games, but we want to be consistently performing - It's an enormous squad effort, but it means that every game is incredibly important.”

THE REC TO HOST TWO ENGLAND U20 SIX NATIONS FIXTURES

England U20 Men’s team will return to Bath Rugby for their penultimate 2024 Six Nations fixture against Ireland on Friday 8 March, with tickets available to buy now.

The Rec will welcome Mark Mapletoft’s young side for the 7.15pm kick-off, meaning a return to the venue a month after their Round 2 meeting with Wales U20 on Friday 9 February.

DERBY WEEKEND REMEMBRANCE JERSEYS TO BE AUCTIONED

This weekend's poppy branded jerseys will be auctioned off this weekend to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Raising money for the Armed Forces community, the Royal British Legion is a cherished charity throughout Bath, with connection running throughout the Bath Rugby squad.

Replicating the efforts of last year's auction in partnership with MatchWornShirt, the full 23 Blue, Black and White jerseys will be named, branded with the Remembrance poppy emblem and also signed by each player.

MatchWornShirt’s 2022 Poppy Appeal campaign was a spectacular success, raising more than £900,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Since it was first worn as an act of Remembrance just over 100 years ago, the red poppy has become an enduring symbol of support for our Armed Forces. Remembrance unites people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds.

The auction will start at kick-off (19:45) on Friday 17 November and run until Sunday 3 December, closing at 14:00.

MAKE YOUR BID

BRENDAN OWEN JOINS BATH RUGBY

Bath Rugby have signed former Jersey Reds fullback Brendan Owen on a short-term contract with immediate effect.

The 27-year-old South African was a free agent after the Reds ceased trading in September.

His previous clubs include Australian sides Western Force, Perth Spirit, San Dona in Italy, and Boland Cavaliers in South Africa.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VYOO

THE RECCY: WEST COUNTRY DERBY FEVER CONTINUES

Bath Rugby welcome Bristol Bears to The Rec under the Friday Night Lights.

Happy Hour - secure your discounted drinks 🍻🍷
Tunnel of noise for the players' arrival 👏
Remembrance ceremony 📯
Live pre-match pitch performances 🎶
Bath Rugby Foundation raffle with exciting, signed Bath Rugby prizes to be won 🎟
Iestyn Lewis's Everest challenge cheque presentation 🗻
Cadets pitch parade 🫡
Live music from Twisted Vinyl 💿
Food & beverage 🍔 including new stadium bars!
Bath Rugby Shop - secure your new kit! 👕
Fan Radio 📻
Bath Rugby Supporters' Club 🤝
Face painter 🎨
Travel sorted with Centurion Travel 🚌

READ THE RECCY

PURCHASE VIÑALBA

MATCH PREVIEW, DELIVERED BY HUBOO

The question of who is Bath Rugby's biggest derby rival has long been debated over the years.

Some say Gloucester Rugby for the passion, some say Leicester Tigers for the long history, others say Bristol Bears simply because of the neighbouring location.

No matter who you think is Bath's biggest derby nemesis, there's no doubting the ferocity each team brings when they enter to The Rec.

In the next instalment of West Country derby history, Pat Lam's Bristol Bears will end their week under the Friday Night Lights in the heart of Bath.

If last week's clash with Gloucester was anything to go by, fans are in for an enthralling physical encounter as the teams run out to the roar of The Rec faithful.

Previewing the match, Johann van Graan reflected on Bath's performance last weekend, the star power of Thomas du Toit and looks ahead to the encounter on Friday.

"Last week was a pretty wild match. Like I said in my interview afterwards, it was two good teams who want to play positive rugby. They threw the first punch and we handle the pressure of a yellow card really well.

"The main message at half-time during that game was get our exits right, which I feel we did well in the second half. We got a bit of momentum and scored some pretty good tries and felt we closed the game well.

"We've got a team here that are always improving, but we have a long way to go. We're at the middle of November and have a long way to go in this Premiership but most importantly we enjoyed the win.

"Every derby is important for the Premiership and we love to be involved in that, but we start back to zero this weekend and hopefully we're preparing well for what's coming on Friday night.

When asked about the impact Thomas du Toit has had on Bath, van Graan said: "He's been everything I envisaged him to be when I signed him. His ability to play loose and tighthead and to perform is so rare currently in the game.

"With someone of his calibre coming in at both sides of the scrum is so important from my point of view.

"It doesn't matter if he starts or not; I think the two games he's come from the bench he has been phenomenal, so once again proves this is a 23-man game. It's not just about the 15 starters, it's the eight men coming from the bench as well.

"He's also just a great guy. He's fitted in straight away. He's a starting international and he's all about fitting into the team asking 'how can I help?' and has already made his mark in the changing room in his own way."

READ THE FULL MATCH PREVIEW

VISIT HOMEWOOD

200 UP FOR TOM DUNN

To celebrate this career moment, former teammate Nathan Catt sat down with ‘Dunnie’ to look back over his career so far.

Hailing from Chippenham RFC, Tom Dunn is Bath through and through and a proud representative of Bath Rugby.

A fans’ favourite, Dunn will become the first player since Matt Banahan in 2018 to hit the 200-appearance milestone, and just one of 10 players to achieve the career landmark in the professional era, joining the likes of Nick Abendanon, Olly Barkley, and David Flatman.

First making his debut in 2012 against Calvisano at The Rec and later scoring his first try against Romania Bucuresti in January 2013. He has won silverware in the A-League in November 2013 and featured in the 2014 Challenge Cup Final where Bath finished runners-up.

In seasons gone by, he has won numerous awards for the club, including Clubman of the Season and Community Player of the Season for his charitable work outside of rugby with the Bath Rugby Foundation and Dorothy House.

He has scored almost 40 tries across all competitions in his 11-year career, a stat he is very much proud of as he chases more records in the future. One target he has his sights on is to achieve the highest number of appearances for Bath Rugby in the professional era.

To celebrate this career moment, former teammate Nathan Catt sat down with ‘Dunnie’ to look back over his career so far.

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION: BRISTOL BEARS

After welcoming their internationals back into their ranks, including the new signing of England international Max Malins, Bristol Bears will be looking for their first win since their victory over Northampton Saints in Round 2.

The Rec will be welcoming an old friend in the form of Rich Lane, who spent two seasons at the club between 2013 and 2015.

The wing has made a huge impression for his Bears' side since joining the BS3 contingent, making six offloads in last weekend's match against Sale Sharks alone. Lane will be looking to test the Bath Rugby back line in defence if he gets his hands on the ball.

THE LAST TIME THE BEARS VISITED BATH

Bath Rugby 13-15 Bristol Bears

Friday 24 February 2023

BATH RUGBY V LEICESTER TIGERS (22/23)

TRY MR FILBERT'S

VIÑALBA INTRODUCES LIMITED EDITION BATH RUGBY WINE

Bath Rugby’s official wine partner Viñalba is proud to announce the launch of a limited-edition Bath Rugby Gran Reservado Malbec.

The renowned Argentinian wine producer is excited to introduce this new offering in celebration of its partnership launched earlier this year with the Premiership Rugby Club.

It’s a collaboration dedicated to Bath Rugby fans and highlights the shared values of teamwork, dedication, and excellence that both the winemaking and rugby communities hold dear.

The limited-edition bottle features a unique label design, inspired by the iconic Bath Rugby colours of blue, black, and white. The label design proudly displays the Bath Rugby emblem making it a collector’s item for both rugby fans and wine lovers.

The Viñalba Gran Reservado Malbec – Bath Rugby Limited Edition is a limited release and will only be available in selected outlets including Bath Rugby’s iconic stadium ‘The Rec’, and online exclusively at Vinohero.co.uk.

BECOME A NEXTGEN MEMBER!

NextGen, the destination for junior Bath Rugby fans.

NextGen membership is designed specifically to cater for the next generation of players and Bath Rugby fans aged between 4 and 16, providing exclusive access to child-friendly content, unforgettable experiences and fantastic competitions.

If you fit the below criteria, NextGen membership has you covered!

✔️ Forever Blue, Black and White

✔️ Aged 4-16

✔️ Rugby fanatic

✔️ Enjoy watching funny content

✔️ Excited to win exclusive prizes

And the best part - it's all FREE!

SIGN UP TO NEXTGEN TODAY

TOM DUNN AND HIS SALLY LUNN'S BUNS

Step aside Mary Berry, Bath Rugby’s longest serving current player who recently reached 200 appearances for the club, has swapped scrummaging for a shift in one of the city’s legendary tea houses giving a centuries-old Sally Lunn’s Bun recipe his own signature makeover.

Larger-than-life hooker, Tom Dunn, has been earning his crust to prepare for Bath Rugby’s Friday night showdown against local rivals Bristol Bears this week, by surprising guests at the world-famous Sally Lunn’s tea and eating house in the city.

IESTYN LEWIS COMPLETES HIS MOUNT EVEREST CHALLENGE!

In a breathtaking display of commitment to the Bath Rugby Foundation cause, Iestyn Lewis has successfully conquered a monumental challenge that left us all in awe. Embarking on a trek to Everest Base Camp on November 1, the 1st XV Club member not only reached the bottom of the world's highest mountain but also took fundraising to new heights—literally.

In an exhilarating adventure that involved a rugby ball, a helicopter, and the iconic Mount Everest, Iestyn went above and beyond to support Bath Rugby Foundation. Launching himself out of a helicopter from a staggering 24,000 ft, just below Everest, he managed to land at the Himalayan dreamlands of Syangboche (12,402 ft) in an undeniably thrilling aerial feat.

This daring endeavour, fuelled by Iestyn’s passion for making a difference, highlights the extraordinary lengths to which our supporters will go for the Foundation.

Having personally funded the entire trip, Iestyn now urges supporters to carry on contributing, whether big or small, to help reach a fundraising goal of £29,031.69p—the symbolic height of Mount Everest. This financial support is crucial in sustaining the Foundation's efforts to positively impact the lives of vulnerable and challenged young people in and around Bath.

Reflecting on his incredible journey, Iestyn shares, “Jumping off a helicopter from the height of 24,000 ft, just below Everest, and landing at the Himalayan dreamlands Syangboche (12,402 ft), is undeniably the most thrilling aerial adventure in the world. The adrenaline rush, the eye-feasting view of the picturesque Sherpa settlement, the backdrop of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, along with other equally petrifying sister peaks, and the whole alpine experience—what else would an adventurer seek or dream of in a lifetime.”

As we gear up for the Bath Rugby v Bristol Bears local derby, let's channel this momentum into a final push for donations, celebrating Iestyn's remarkable achievement and ensuring a lasting impact on the Foundation's initiatives. Your support can make a real difference in the lives of those who need it most.

DONATE HERE

RUN THE BATH HALF FOR US IN MARCH!

Looking for your next challenge? Open to pushing yourself? We're looking for people to run the Bath Half on behalf of Bath Rugby Foundation in March.

When running and raising money for Bath Rugby Foundation, you'll not only be changing the lives of young people in and around Bath, but you'll also get:

Free limited edition Bath Rugby Foundation running vest
Training runs and running clinics to improve your time and recovery
Massage sessions throughout your training, as well as on the day of the Bath Half
Secure bag storage
Warm space pre and post run
Food and hydration taken care of
Bath Half cheering support
Jelly babies!!

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WORKSHOPS - LOSE THE LABELS TRAINING

Is your workplace an environment where diversity thrives? Do your employees feel welcomed, valued and respected, regardless of different needs and ways of thinking.

At Bath Rugby Foundation and our ‘Lose The Labels’ EDI training we support businesses and organisations with their inclusive workplaces and to champion equality and diversity.