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DIGITAL PROGRAMME: EXETER CHIEFS (GP: R8)

Saturday 2 December 2023

By Bath Rugby

December 1^st, 2023

DIGITAL PROGRAMME: EXETER CHIEFS (GP: R8)

LEARN MORE ABOUT DYSON ZONE

WELCOME FROM OUR CEO

Welcome to The Rec as we prepare to face another West Country rival in Exeter Chiefs for our Round 8 fixture in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership.

We extend our greeting to Saturday’s visitors and their players, staff, and supporters for their second trip to The Rec this season.

We also welcome the arrivals of Hame Faiva and Elliott Stooke, who is a familiar face here at Bath Rugby, and are delighted to have them both with us.

Back in October we hosted the Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup and came away with a 34-14 victory after a dominant first half performance.

This time it’s all about league points and we know both teams will be looking to end this current block of Premiership games on a high before embarking on our respective European campaigns in the Investec Champions Cup, which starts next weekend.

We come into this fixture on the back of a strong block of performances with some great wins, some frustrating narrow losses, and clear evidence that the team is getting better and continuing to improve.

Importantly we’ve managed to pick up six bonus points from seven games and that’s going to come into play at the end of the season when the final league placings are decided.

Last Friday evening under the lights saw a very close game away from home against a physical Sale Sharks team and we were unfortunate not to win.

Returning to The Rec, we are anticipating another packed house and continue to be incredibly grateful to everyone for your support.

There has been in recent weeks a fair amount of coverage regarding the Professional Game Partnership (PGP), which is the new name for the Professional Game Agreement between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the clubs.

The PGP covers all aspects of the relationship between the Premiership clubs and the RFU, from player release to academies and of course funding. The relationship between the Premiership and the RFU should be one of partnership, the clubs play a vital role in managing the academy and pathway system across the country for both the club and national game.

Whilst some have challenged the level of proposed future funding, it is absolutely right and proper that the PGP provides an appropriate level of funding for the Premiership clubs which reflects their investment in English rugby, as they continue to rely on the support of shareholders following the Covid pandemic.

It’s in all our interests that the domestic game can find a sound financial footing, and the proposed PGP goes some way in supporting that.

From a Bath Rugby perspective we continue with our commitment to investing in the highest quality coaches and staff, together with world-class players alongside home-grown talent developed in our academy (our academy has been assessed by Premiership Rugby as being the most productive of all.

Premiership clubs). The funding from the PGP, together with income from central broadcast and sponsorship deals managed by Premiership Rugby, continue to play a critical role in our business plans for the Club.

Another key pillar of our plans to be self-sustaining over the medium term is the delivery of an exceptional new stadium at the Rec in the heart of Bath. Our stadium development proposals remain with the council’s planning authority, and we are waiting for formal planning responses from key stakeholder consultees. Once again, thank you to everyone for your positive comments of support. We hope to be before a planning committee sometime in the new year and we will of course keep you informed.

Rugby has been lucky to enjoy the support of passionate and generous individuals over the years, none more so than Bill Vasilieff. I was deeply saddened to learn of Bill’s sudden passing earlier this month.

A proud Scotsman, Bill was a lifelong Bath Rugby supporter and in his role as Chief Executive of Novia Financial – the company he founded – he was the driving force behind Novia’s title sponsorship of Bath Rugby over a number of years. Bill also raised considerable sums for the Bath Rugby Foundation and was a significant figure across Bath as well as the City. On a personal note, I always enjoyed Bill’s dry wit, he was always great company, and I have some great memories from European games away. Bill will be missed deeply.

My thoughts and those of everyone at the club go to Bill’s wife, Chris, his family, and friends.

Bill was so excited about the future of the Blue, Black and White and would have loved nothing more than a classic battle like this weekend’s game against Exeter.

Thank you as ever for your loyal and passionate support.

COYB!

Best wishes, Tarquin.

VISIT THATCHERS

STOOKE BACK IN BLUE, BLACK & WHITE

In a refreshed matchday-23, van Graan brings back England internationals Obano and Stuart, with Tom Dunn completing the front row set up.

Elliott Stooke get his 2023/24 Bath Rugby debut locking in with Charlie Ewels at second row.

Miles Reid and Sam Underhill offer up their intensity in the tackle on the flanks, with Alfie Barbeary back at starting Number 8.

Ben Spencer will captain from kick-off, accompanied by Finn Russell at 10, with the pair sitting joint-second for the most retained kicks in the league.

On the wings, Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga man the wide channels, with Cameron Redpath and Max Ojomoh named as centres.

Matt Gallagher completes the starting line-up at full back after a spell on the wing against Sale Sharks last week.

On the bench, Juan Schoeman, Niall Annett and Archie Griffin will get their run out come time for substitutions.

GJ van Velze and Jaco Coetzee complete van Graan's replacement forwards.

Young duo Tom Carr-Smith and Sam Harris are given another opportunity off the bench, with Will Butt completing the matchday-23.

The game kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday 2 December.

Watch on TNT Sports, listen on BBC Radio Bristol or follow along live on X channel.

"THE REC IS A UNIQUE PLACE TO PLAY, WHICH IS AMAZING" - BENO OBANO

"I feel like playing at The Rec is special for everyone that gets to come. It's so unique that it becomes such an experience for travelling fans and even opposition teams.

"It's just a unique place to play, which is amazing and even just walking into town on a matchday, you always see full pubs and bars. The whole city gets buzzy from us.

"Competition is important for improvement, so you need to stress yourselves and understand where your weaknesses are and when you're in training, having good front rows and good packs who are going against each other, you're able to stress each other well and see what needs to improve and what might be cracking.

"Rather than trying to learn on game day and get your feedback then, you can get it in training because the quality is so high.

"If I work as hard as I possibly can on performance, training and recovery, the games will take care of itself and I can perform on the weekends. So that's really at the heart of my preparation.

"I feel like Exeter is one of the toughest games. I always thought they're really physical and there's always a battle in the forwards.

"I made my debut against Exeter, so I've played a lot against them over the years, and it's always been physical and they're always a tough team to beat.

"They've lost a lot of players, but they've still got a lot of capable and good quality players in their squad but we try not to think about what the opposition think of us.

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.

STOOKE IS BACK AT BATH RUGBY

Stooke, who is no stranger to Bath Rugby, left the club in 2021 to join Wasps and has since gone on to play in the Top 14 for Montpellier.

Joining the club from France this week, the 6ft6 lock will offer another option in the Bath Rugby pack.

Of Stooke’s return to the club, Head of Rugby, Johann van Graan, said: “Elliott will offer another option for us in our set-piece.

“Our line-out, maul and scrum are elements we’re consistently working on so to add Elliott’s experience to these will only be a positive for us.

“He is familiar face with the Bath Rugby supporters and I’m sure they’ll give him a warm welcome when they see him at The Rec.”

READ THE FULL NEWS

HAME FAIVA JOINS BATH RUGBY

The Italian international hooker is fresh from playing at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he amassed three appearances for the Azzurri against France, New Zealand and Namibia.

The New Zealand-born 29-year-old will offer another option at hooker and holds experience across numerous competitions, most recently playing for the Wellington Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VYOO

THE RECCY: FIRST FESTIVE FIXTURE

The first of our festive fixtures is here and we're welcoming Exeter Chiefs to The Rec for Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.

WHEN GATES OPEN FROM 13:00

Happy Hour - secure your discounted pints 🍻🍷
Tunnel of noise for the players' arrival 👏
Bath Rugby Foundation raffle - win an England Rugby World Cup jersey signed by Ollie Lawrence, Sam Underhill and Will Stuart! 🏆
Rolex Raffle in partnership with Bath Rugby Foundation and Watches of Bath ⌚️
RPA Restart Rugby weekend 🔴
Half-time Super Six Kicks 6️⃣
Mascot Max 🦁
Guard of Honour 🚩
Live music from Loose Connections 💿
Food & beverage 🍔
Bath Rugby Shop - secure your new kit! 👕
Fan Radio 📻
Bath Rugby Supporters' Club 🤝
Face painter 🎨
Travel sorted with Centurion Travel 🚌
More travel information ℹ️

READ THE FULL RECCY

PURCHASE VIÑALBA

MATCH PREVIEW, DELIVERED BY HUBOO

Reflecting the performance of his side, Johann van Graan expressed how proud he is of performance and that both teams last weekend fought to the very last minute.

As the Head of Rugby looked ahead to this weekend's fixture, van Graan said: "We played them in the Premiership Rugby Cup this season already, and they've carried on from where they left off last season. Different personnel but there's continuity in the coaching group.

"They've changed their game a bit, they kick a lot more and they've gone away from a possession-based team to more of a territorial team and they've put a lot of teams under pressure.

"Exeter have had some phenomenal performances, if you think back to the Saracens' performance and the one against Sale. So they're incredibly dangerous and as we do every single week, we respect our opponents, put a lot of time in our preparation and we've had some big battles in previous years in the Champions Cup and the Premiership.

"Last season's games were phenomenal games of rugby between us; the one at Sandy Park went to the last play of the game and we were on the good end of the result at The Rec, but this season it's a new game, new ball, different circumstances.

"It looks like it'll be very cold in the coming days so there will be a few things we'll have to adapt to. Ultimately, it's great to be part of this Premiership.

READ THE FULL PREVIEW

VISIT HOMEWOOD

PAINT THE TOWN RED

With a week to go until Bath Rugby welcome Irish opponents Ulster Rugby to The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup, the club is launching a city-wide campaign to celebrate their return to the world's biggest club rugby competition.

Wearing a striking new red kit, the Paint the Town Red initiative will see Bath Rugby partners and local businesses offer special discounts for all Bath Rugby Investec Champions Cup ticket holders.

There will also be an ‘Official After Party’ at Walcot House, fans can be in with a chance to win a Rolex with Watches of Bath (supporting the Bath Rugby Foundation) and there will be other magical experiences in the city and at the game.

Kick-off for Bath Rugby’s Investec Champions Cup Round One fixture against Ulster is 15:15 on Saturday 9 December. Tickets are on sale now and available to purchase here.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION: EXETER CHIEFS

Sitting third in the Premiership table, Exeter Chiefs head to The Rec having won five of their seven fixtures. In an epic 43-0 win over current table leaders Sale Sharks in Round 3, there is no doubt the Chiefs' visit to Bath will bring intensity and physicality as they hit The Rec's turf.

Ending a 13-month wait for a win on the road last weekend, the Chiefs took the win away at Kingston Park over Newcastle Falcons, scoring 14 unanswered points in the second half.

Earning a Player of the Match medal for his performance last weekend, Jacques Vermeulen showed his South African physicality in the encounter and will look to offer the same dominance come 3pm on Saturday.

In a fixture that gave us that picture of Cameron Redpath flying through the air, the Bath v Chiefs match-up is one that delivers thrilling rugby.

CHIEFS' VISIT TO THE REC LAST SEASON

Bath Rugby 36-19 Exeter Chiefs

Saturday 26 March 2023

BATH RUGBY V EXETER CHIEFS 22/23

TRY MR FILBERT'S

CLUB CONTINUES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROMOTING MATCHDAY SAFETY

Every week, Bath Rugby supporters travel from far and wide to support the Blue, Black and White in their Gallagher Premiership campaign.

Whether at home at The Rec, or travelling across the country, win or lose the Bath Rugby faithful is there to cheer the team on.

As a club, Bath Rugby wants to make sure it is doing all it can to ensure the matchday experience is a safe space for all its supporters and the wider community.

After the success of its campaign with Avon & Somerset Police and British Transport Police last season, Bath Rugby has joined forces once again with the two organisations to tackle violence and harassment against women and girls in the South West area.

The initiative promotes the act of being an active bystander, where we as a community can come together and safely challenge unacceptable behaviour on a matchday, on the journey to the stadium and when travelling home.

LEARN MORE

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!!

WIN IN OUR ROLEX RAFFLE!

In one of our most generous donations to date, Watches of Bath have gifted the Foundation a Rolex Submariner watch worth £10,000... and it could be yours!

For your chance to win this ultimate prize, enter the raffle for just £10!

Tickets are available to purchase using the link below, or pop along to the Abbey Hotel's Christmas Market Snow Globe to speak to the team and purchase.

Every penny of the money raised in the raffle goes towards helping children and young people in Bath and the surrounding areas.

ENTER THE RAFFLE

BY BRSC CHAIRMAN, DAVID HARRINGTON

This will be the third local derby match in just over three weeks and this time we welcome Exeter Chiefs to The Rec – I’m not sure my nerves can cope!

Our record so far this season in Gallagher Premiership local derbies has been impeccable, with two 'Ws' out of two and we are confident of achieving the hattrick.

Last weekend saw a narrow defeat to Sale Sharks despite a tremendous defensive performance but, looking on the positive side, we still remain in the top four “play-off” positions.

BRSC would like to welcome our two newest squad members namely Hame Faiva and (welcome back to) Elliott Stooke.

The Supporters' Club is delighted to confirm we are fast approaching our 1,000th Member of the season – the highest number for many-a-year – so, come along to our gazebo on a match day and sign-up, if you are the 1,000th you might get a pleasant surprise!

At just £10 for a single adult, membership of BRSC is excellent value for money with all the benefits it provides (see “allez-bath.co.uk” for a full list).

On Tuesday 12 December 2023, we are holding our annual Christmas Quiz Night in the Clubhouse at The Rec., (doors open 7:00pm) with Dave Stock as Quiz-master
On Tuesday 13 February 2024, Tony Spreadbury joins us for “Ask the Ref”, again in the Clubhouse at The Rec.

Why not get a BRSC Membership, as a Xmas present, for that special person in your life?

BRSC is proud and delighted to work alongside Bath Rugby Foundation to help raise funds to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people who live in and around Bath.

Congratulations to the Foundation themselves who recently celebrated their 20th anniversary (when England also won the RWC in 2003!) and to Iestyn Lewis who successfully completed his sponsored sky-dive over Mount Everest whilst carrying a Bath Rugby ball, to raise money for BRF. BRSC is arranging some joint events with BRF in the weeks and months to come, so keep reviewing our website for full details and don’t miss out.

BRSC sends our beloved Blue, Black and White every best wish for a great and successful game today.

It's so easy to join BRSC – come along to our new Gazebo, adjacent to the Swift Half, in the Fan Village, on a match day (we are there from “Gates Open” to 15 minutes before kick-off or visit us on-line at “allez-bath.co.uk”).