Frost poised to make Bath senior debut against Sale Sharks

Hooker Dan Frost is set to make his senior debut for Bath Rugby tomorrow (Friday 3rd October).

Alfie Barbeary – here celebrating in his swimming trunks during Bath’s victory parade around the city centre in June – will make his 50th appearance for the Blue, Black & White if he comes off the bench tomorrow (Friday 3rd October) | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Taunton-born 28-year-old has been named among the replacements for the Blue, Blue & White’s home clash with Sale Sharks in Gallagher PREM Round 2 (7.45pm).

The match will be the hosts’ first at The Rec in the league this term and follows their tremendous 47-31 victory at Harlequins in Round 1.

Frost began his career with North Petherton, at which point he was part of Bath’s academy.

He also turned out for Taunton Titans and England Under-18s before joining Cornish Pirates.

Frost moved to Wasps and in 2022 signed for Exeter Chiefs. He switched to Bath this summer, on a two-year contract.

Johann van Graan, the Blue, Black & White’s head of rugby, has named a starting XV whose front row sees props Beno Obano and Vilikesa Sela line up alongside hooker Tom Dunn.

Locks Charlie Ewels and Quinn Roux link up in the engine room in front of a back row consisting of Ted Hill, Guy Pepper and, at number 8, Miles Reid.

Captain Ben Spencer and Max Ojomoh are the half-backs, Cameron Redpath and Ollie Lawrence are the centres and Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga occupy the wings.

Tom de Glanville completes the starting XV at full-back.

Joining Frost among the replacements is Alfie Barbeary, who will make his 50th appearance for the Blue, Black & White if called upon.

Bath starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville.

Bath replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Will Butt, 23 Alfie Barbeary.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson has made two changes to his starting XV, following the Sharks’ 27-10 home success against Gloucester Rugby in Round 1.

South African lock Hyron Andrews comes into the second row and former Bristol Bears centre Sam Bedlow starts at number 12.

Sale starting XV: 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ben Bamber, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Sam Dugdale, 9 Gus Warr, 10 George Ford, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 12 Sam Bedlow, 13 Rob du Preez, 14 Tom Roebuck, 15 Joe Carpenter.

Sale replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 WillGriff John, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Tristan Woodman, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Arron Reed, 23 Marius Louw.

Sanderson said: “Going to Bath is one of the toughest assignments in English rugby at the moment.

“It’s one of those grounds with a partisan crowd, and a team with the ability to muscle up physically against us.

“It’s easy for things to feel like they’re not going your way.

“We’re an emotional team and in the past we’ve let that affect our mentality and games have spiralled away from us in the last 20 minutes.

“That’s been the case the last two times we’ve played at Bath – so we’ve tried to address that this week.

“Bath are a really good team, even without some of their best players.

“They’re probably better than they were last season and they’re very well coached.”

Tomorrow’s match will kick-off at 7.45pm, with gates opening at 5.45pm.