With their Investec Champions Cup semi-final in France on the horizon, Bath Rugby have named a much-changed matchday squad for their Gallagher PREM table-top tussle with Northampton Saints tomorrow, Saturday 25th April.
Bath Rugby will take on Northampton Saints at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens tomorrow, Saturday 25th April, with the sides level at one win each from two meetings here at The Rec this season | Photo © Richard Briggs
Only 10 of the 23 players selected against Harlequins for the PREM Round 13 clash at The Rec on Saturday 18th April have been picked by Blue, Black & White head of rugby Johann van Graan for the big battle with the Saints at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens (5.30pm).
Miles Reid will captain Bath in the Midlands – and among the replacements will be PREM debutant Sam Winters and young Italy international Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu.
Northampton will go into the Round 14 encounter in pole position in the standings, one point ahead of the second-placed Somerset outfit.
The sides have met twice at The Rec this season, and honours are even with one win apiece.
Phil Dowson’s Saints were 41-21 victors in PREM Round 8, blitzing their hosts in the second half of a game that was locked at 14-14 at the interval.
But Bath took the honours in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, fighting back from 28-7 behind and then 35-14 adrift to triumph 43-41 on Friday 10th April.
Scott Kirk retains his position in the front row for tomorrow’s match. He will be joined by Dan Frost at hooker and Kieran Verden at tighthead.
Ewan Richards and Ross Molony will partner in the second row.
Joining Reid in the back row will be Josh Bayliss on the blindside and Arthur Green at number 8.
Bernard van der Linde will start at scrum-half – and Ciaran Donoghue will line up at fly-half.
Will Butt and Chris Harris will combine in midfield, Will Muir will be on the left wing, Louie Hennessey will start on the right wing and Tom de Glanville will operate at full-back.
Alongside Opoku-Gyamfi and Winters on the bench will be Kepu Tuipulotu, Francois van Wyk, Archie Griffin, Ted Hill, Sam Underhill and Tom Carr-Smith.
Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Louie Hennessey, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfu, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Sam Winters, 23 Sam Underhill.
Black, Green & Gold director of rugby Dowson has made three changes to his side, who will be skippered by Fraser Dingwall.
The return to the wing of British & Irish Lion Tommy Freeman – who scored three tries in that festive PREM match at The Rec – allows George Hendy to move to full-back in place of club captain George Furbank, who misses out while he goes through concussion protocols.
Ollie Sleightholme will join Freeman on the wings.
Northampton will be unchanged in the half-back berths, with Alex Mitchell staying on at scrum-half and Fin Smith remaining at fly-half.
Luke Green has recovered from injury to take his place at tighthead. He will pack down alongside loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Craig Wright.
Tom Lockett and Ed Prowse will be the Saints’ locks for the second week running.
Henry Pollock is the only change in the back row, where he will be joined by flankers Josh Kemeny and Sam Graham.
Dowson has opted for a six-two split on the bench.
Northampton starting XV: 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Luke Green, 4 Tom Lockett, 5 Ed Prowse, 6 Josh Kemeny, 7 Sam Graham, 8 Henry Pollock, 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Fin Smith, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 13 Tom Litchfield, 14 Tommy Freeman, 15 George Hendy.
Northampton replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Callum Chick, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Rory Hutchinson.
The match will be refereed by Luke Pearce, who will be assisted by Adam Leal and John Meredith. Ian Tempest will be the television match official.
Following the encounter with Northampton, Bath will be gearing up for their Champions Cup last-four tie with Union Bordeaux Bègles.
The semi-final will be played at the 42,100-capacity Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole on Sunday 3rd May.
Georgian referee Nika Amashukeli will take charge of the game. He was the referee for Bath’s Round of 16 success against Saracens at The Rec on Saturday 4th April but was replaced for the second half by Ben Connor after suffering an injury.
Meanwhile, two Bath players are among the final five nominees for the 2026 Investec Player of the Year accolade.
Fly-half Finn Russell and number 8 Alfie Barbeary are on the new shortlist which has been selected by a panel of rugby legends, broadcasters and fan votes.
The 2026 Investec Player of the Year will receive the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy – and its destination is now in the hands of rugby fans.
Supporters are invited to vote for this season’s standout performer. Voting is live at https://www.epcrugby.com/european-professional-club-rugby/ipoty until 3.30pm UK time on Saturday 23rd May – and the winner will be announced following that afternoon’s Champions Cup final at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.
Union Bordeaux Bègles also have two players – wing?Louis Bielle-Biarrey?and fly-half?Matthieu Jalibert – in the final five which is completed by Leinster number 8 Caelan Doris.
