Dunn to make history when Bath face Bordeaux in Champions Cup semi

Hooker Tom Dunn will set a record when he lines up for a very strong Bath Rugby side in their Investec Champions Cup semi-final in France on Sunday 3rd May.

On Sunday 3rd May, Tom Dunn, left, will set a record – for making the most appearances for Bath Rugby in the professional era. He is in the starting XV named by head of rugby Johann van Graan, right, for the Investec Champions Cup semi-final in Bordeaux | Photo © Bath Rugby

The 33-year-old will make his 266th appearance for the Blue, Black & White – the most for the club in the professional era – when they take on Union Bordeaux Bègles at the Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole.

There will also be a landmark for flanker Josh Bayliss, who will make his 150th appearance for Bath.

The match pairs last year’s Champions Cup winners – Bordeaux – with the 2025 Challenge Cup winners – Bath – and is sure to be a cracker.

Props Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit will join Dunn in the Blue, Black & White’s front row.

Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels will be in the second row.

The back row will see Bayliss joined by Guy Pepper and number 8 Alfie Barbeary.

Scrum-half Ben Spencer returns to captain Johann van Graan’s team and will combine with fly-half Finn Russell in the half-backs.

In midfield, Ollie Lawrence is named as inside centre and Louie Hennessey will wear 13.

Will Muir and Henry Arundell will take the wings – and Santi Carreras will play at full-back.

Forwards Kepu Tuipulotu, Francois van Wyk, Vilikesa Sela, Ted Hill, Sam Underhill and Miles Reid and backs Tom Carr-Smith and Tom de Glanville will be on the bench.

Bath starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Henry Arundell, 15 Santi Carreras.

Bath replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Tom de Glanville, 23 Miles Reid.

Bordeaux – who will be skippered by scrum-half Maxime Lucu – have also named a very powerful line-up for the encounter.

Union Bordeaux Bègles starting XV: 1 Matis Perchaud, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Carlü Sadie, 4 Boris Palu, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 7 Cameron Woki, 8 Marko Gazzotti, 9 Maxime Lucu, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Damian Penaud, 14 Pablo Uberti, 15 Salesi Rayasi.

Union Bordeaux Bègles replacements: 16 Gaetan Barlot, 17 Ugo Boniface, 18 Ben Tameifuna, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 21 Temo Matiu, 22 Arthur Retiere, 23 Hugo Reus.

The game will kick-off at 3pm UK time and will be shown live on Premier Sports.

The winners will face Leinster Rugby or RC Toulon in the final, which will be played in Bilbao, Spain, on Saturday 23rd May.

Meanwhile, the University of Bath won the Webb Ellis Somerset Cup on Tuesday 28th April, beating Midsomer Norton 55-22 in the final at Lobbingtons, home of Chew Valley.