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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:06:12:48:04 by P G Tips.

Louie Hennessey is in the Wales Squad and Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi is in the Italy Squad, so seems unlikely they play in this.

Thanks BSJ. That’s a good scene setter for this weekend. I understand why you’ve suggested Tyler Offiah and Henry Arundell on the wings, but in an ideal world I’d like to see Charlie Griffin getting more game time. I’m really impressed with what we’ve seen of him so far. Maybe he’ll feature at home against Glos in what is already a sold out game!

Thanks BSJ.

It's hard to predict how jvG will rotate and select for this, but we know he likes to maximise chances for the wider squad.

So- as dsch says, Hennessy and Opoku-Gyamfi will be elsewhere, which could mean an Academy centre- Cutts, Harrison or Treacey -gets a go. Maybe Bennett at lock-or one of Moloney or Roux who have barely featured this term.

Others who may be in contention- Charlie griffin for wing, Roue or Linegar for fly half, Max Pearce at hooker, Connor Treacey for back row.

PG

Oh dear dcsh!

Of course they are. that makes things very tricky......it might be that Miles Reid has to play.

One of Austin Emens, Charlie Griffin and Declan Treacey maybe for Louie Hennessy.......

It seems strange with a large squad and an Academy group that it is so hard to pick a 23. But what with a desire to rest, injured players and international call ups the cupboard gets somewhat bare!

Nice to see preview so early and potential of strong squad between returning players and academy. Feels like we've got a integrated team who've played together through age group & Uni for a few years. Exeter usually go strong but looking forward to this on.
On suggested squad James Maloney at 18 is a back row rather than prop so expect Alfie Griffin to be included or Jacob Yates.
Like the other suggestions to be included like Charlie Griffin.

Think Prem Cup teams could look a little different this year. It's been a fairly stable squad the last two years but a couple of those players are more established senior players in the first block of games. Kirk obviously injured anyway but do Jeanes, Green and Richards need to be heavily involved in the Cup givne their current importance to the seniors? Do we risk van der Linde in these games knowing he's quite fragile as it is? Does Molony play to get some game time and mentor some prospects or is that too much of a demotion? Would add that I'd be shocked if Coetzee starts or plays at all come to that - just think we've prepped him for that 23 shirt and we won't risk that for the sake of a Prem Cup game with his injury history.

Best guess:
Wheeler, Spandler, Verden, Molony, Richards, Bennett, Timmins, Treacey, Carr-Smith, Donoghue, Offiah, Treacey, Griffin, Emens, Woods

Imagine Exeter will go strong as they tend to do

Firstly, as a chiefs fan i hope we don't go as strong as the last few years. We really can't afford for any more frontline players to get injured. We are missing most if the players who made ladt season a successful one, hence why we sit where we do in the table
Secondly, my interest in the prem cup is lessoning each year. The format and the way each club chooses to treat the conp, make it a bit of a farce. It just seems to be something to fill a gap, rather than a meaningful competition. Last years final seems to suggest most agree with me, the attendance was pretty poor at the home ground of one best supported teams. The final itself was a miss match with a stronger tigers team playing, ironically, the worst team cheifs had selected all tournament.
Intreated to hear your views.

Quote:

Big Chief Little Chief
Firstly, as a chiefs fan i hope we don't go as strong as the last few years. We really can't afford for any more frontline players to get injured. We are missing most if the players who made ladt season a successful one, hence why we sit where we do in the table
Secondly, my interest in the prem cup is lessoning each year. The format and the way each club chooses to treat the conp, make it a bit of a farce. It just seems to be something to fill a gap, rather than a meaningful competition. Last years final seems to suggest most agree with me, the attendance was pretty poor at the home ground of one best supported teams. The final itself was a miss match with a stronger tigers team playing, ironically, the worst team cheifs had selected all tournament.
Intreated to hear your views.

Who is there left to play though if not some of the first team? I thought part of the reason for going strong previously was lack of academy or Uni lads to call on.

I am going to Exeter on Saturday and although I'd love to see a team as strong as this, I doubt I will. Besides Hennessy and EOG being on international duty, I don't think we'll see Lawrence, Arundell, BvDL, Green, Coetzee, Jeanes, Frost, TCS or TdG. If we see a stronger team, it'll be for the Bristol game on 20/11 when will be looking to get players up to speed for the PREM game on 4/12. (No game for us on 27/11).

My guess:

Jack Woods
Tyler Offiah
Charlie Griffin
Sam Winters
Declan Treacy
Ciaran Donoghue
Ieuan Davies

Ioan Emanuel
Jasper Spandler
Kieran Verden
Ross Molony
Ewan Richards
Jack Bennett
George Timmins
Connor Treacey

Replacements

Claudius Wheeler
Max Pearce
Alfie Griffin
James Maloney
Alex Ridgeway
Isaac Mears
James Linegar
Jack Harrison

PS Would LOVE to see Horse back as some point in the next 3 weeks.

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

I should probably have tried to get Will Roue and Austin Emens in there somewhere.

I see Cutts, Linegar and Roue are all selected for the Uni tomorrow v Nottingham although the latter 2 are on the bench so may get some involvement on Saturday.

I think its rather odd that we would not go as strong as we could within the constraints of no international players, no strong squad players where a good alternative youngster was available.

I know I played rugby a million years ago but I feel on field game time was very, very important. Injuries are random but I feel the body, and the mind benefits from regular playing and becomes used to the bangs and the knocks.

I feel that in these PREM CUP games we should expose the players who might be getting 15 minutes, or indeed no minutes in Premiership League games.

As an aside in the Mexico Football World Cup, Gordon Banks got a stomach sickness and his number 2 Alex Stepney had to play and he was all at sea because GB had played so much for so long and he was completely off the pace......

The best way players can be prepared for matches is by playing matches.

I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Quote:

Bath Supporter Jack
I think its rather odd that we would not go as strong as we could within the constraints of no international players, no strong squad players where a good alternative youngster was available.

I don't think JvG will risk injury to any player who he might have to call upon to start a PREM game, except those coming back from injury or needing some game time on 20/11.

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

Paul60

Of course you are right......senior moment on my behalf.......but what I wrote remains valid otherwise.

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

I think i would go something like:

Woods
Winters
Griffin
Treacey
Offiah
Donoghue
Davies

Emmanuel
Spandler
Verden
Richards
Malony
Bennett
Timmins
Treacey

Bench: pearce wheeler archie griffin jeanes ridgeway mears roue emmens

Imagine sela, roux, cowan , DDP will be back in this block at some stage and in need of a game.

Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

Nice line ups!
It is exciting this prem cup for development.
Because we lost the first game, I would choose a mix between fringe and youth players. Simply because we want to go as far as possible, so younger players get more experience.

Wheeler Dunn Verden
Maloney Opoku-Gyamfi
Richards Timmins
Green
Griffin Carr-Smith Donoghue Redpath Treacey Offiah
Woods.

Quote:

joethefanatic

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

That's the England cricketer Phil Tuffnel...

Quote:

Charlieboa1
Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

I think they have to play Donoghue to try to get him anywhere near the performance level that he was achieving pre-injury. If he has to step in for the first team he will need to back at that level and so far has look a shadow of 2 seasons ago.

Quote:

Treble

Quote:

joethefanatic

Quote:

Paul60
I think the replacement goal keeper in 1970 was in fact Peter Bonetti who played for Chelsea nicknamed the Cat

Because he could sleep anywhere?

That's the England cricketer Phil Tuffnel...

If it was because he had 9 lives then he must've used them all before the WC game v West Germany

Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

Charlieboa1
Will they risk donoghue? Needs games at 10 but with santi out..... still leaves roue and linegar as options for this comp

I think they have to play Donoghue to try to get him anywhere near the performance level that he was achieving pre-injury. If he has to step in for the first team he will need to back at that level and so far has look a shadow of 2 seasons ago.

I agree, he was in my team.....but i wil be watching him from behind the sofa with my fingers crossed.

If he can get a few games, hit some form and avoid injury then happy happy day's.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

I can never resist at having a pop at them for it but they were still fresh enough to beat us at the business end of the season last season.

Also as BCLC has said, not all clubs are lucky enough to have squads with over 70 players!

Quote:

Charlieboa1

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

fanindevon
Going back to the topic. Baxter is quoted on the local beeb, saying that "Exeter need to use cup for league momentum" Sounds as if he may be going full bore.

He’s done that for several seasons, so no real surprise.

I can never resist at having a pop at them for it but they were still fresh enough to beat us at the business end of the season last season.

Also as BCLC has said, not all clubs are lucky enough to have squads with over 70 players!

That’s not a criticism from me, just a statement of fact. If it works for Exeter then good for them, Baxter knows his squad and what is best for them, with a decent track record of getting it right.

Sorry dcsh, didnt mean it as pulling you up... my view now is very much each to their own in this comp like you

I like the way we use it , it builds deprh- my frustration has always been we didnt trust that depth in crucial moments after UBB defeat.

Defo yhink progressing in this tournament is going to be exceedingly tough with our opponents selection policies but jvg rightly will stick to his guns

Live on Prem Rugby YouTube channel.

Quote:

tigersimon
Live on Prem Rugby YouTube channel.

Great.

This competition is crying out for some rules on what players can be used. Hopefully Bath won’t use any player that could be needed for next PL game and Chiefs will go as strong as they can, like Baxter always does. What’s the point in watching that sort of mismatch?

I, and most chiefs fans i speak to, would like some rules in place. The last few years we have gone much stronger than id have liked. However, in our defence we did lose a whole double winning squad in a couple of seasons, this meant a lot of younger players were promoted to the first team ahead of time. The next lot of youngsters are now ready.
It might be a stronger squad than yours but it certainly won't be stacked. The second and back rows are all on international duty or injured. Scrum half, outside centre and winger all away. Still a few injuries in the back three as well, so i imagine Robs hand will be forced somewhat in selection.Paul BB is rumoured to be in contention on a return from injury, along with a couple of low key new signings.
I imagine you might see a few young props and hookers who do have first team experience.

Im hoping for an evenly matched game, a one sided game is not good for either team really. I do feel the comp has lost its way somewhat, the first few rounds being treated as pre season freindlies by some teams doesn't help. Some rules in selection would help, although that would be difficult to actually introduce, what exactly do people want?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:05:10:16:59 by Big Chief Little Chief.

Quote:

Big Chief Little Chief
what exactly do people want?

Two things really:
A Cup competition people really care about: Mostly or all knockout, final at HQ. Include the Welsh?
Include the Championship teams, so the PREM teams would come in at R16?
A proper A League with player eligibility rules. Perhaps U23 with a couple of exceptions.
Not exactly novel I know!

BATH supporter since 1975

Adopted players:
2015/6 Tom Homer
2016/7 Matt Banahan
2017/8 Jeff Williams
2018/9 Victor Delmas
2019/20 Semesa Rokoduguni
2020/21 Will Stuart

I know it didn't go down well, but I actually think a better way forward for English club rugby would be, rather than to cut off the Champ, to really promote it and make it a league that really does contain teams that can compete with the PREM.

I think the Champ's too fat, too many teams that really are nowhere near competing with the PREM. You could say take the top 6 Champ teams from the last season and create a 16 team cup competition which, if played during the internationals, could be a genuine competition. Classic 4 pools of 4, 1/4, 1/2, final. That could be genuinely watchable, and address the "playing same old teams" complaint. Those 6 teams would get good exposure to top level rugby and the money that goes with it. If they were to get promoted they'd only be a short distance away from the teams in the PREM, they'd at least know what they are facing.

BUT, those 6 teams would be similar teams each year and the split in the Champ would only grow. I feel one reason the Champ isn't commercially interesting is that gap. It's too bloated.

16 teams is the sweetspot for that sort of competition. So, and this is what people don't like, I'd DROP 2 PREM teams to the Champ and 8 Champ teams to Div1, still have promotion at both levels.
We'd lose two home league fixtures but gain home fixtures overall through a genuinely watchable competition. We'd have a healthy second tier you could put on TV, which is what they need. The League PLC would have a bigger set of teams, which is what they want to increase the value of The League PLC.

A couple of alternatives that I think are less optimal:

- two conferences: say north and south, with the same set of 16 teams. It's ok, but we'd be in a conference with these Champ teams all season, outside international windows. They'd have to spend to keep up and they aren't getting the gates and fans to do so. If its ringfenced it would become quite dull and uncompetitive.

- a 16 team PREM! First, too many matches, you'd have to have a mickey mouse home-away structure like the URC. Second, the bottom half would get the gates/fans but would have to spend to compete. Half our games would be practically walkovers.

So, I think the reduced leagues and a competitive cup might work. Think of it as two conferences if you must, but just an A and B conference where both are playing against comparable teams and require comparable budgets, but with the chance to test themselves and earn money against the top conference when they are not quite at their strongest. Or you could just call it a sensible league structure.

There's other options: two sets of 10, two of 12, but there really aren't 24 competitive pro teams in England. 20 is a push and what do you do? 4 pools of 5 I guess works.

Do Exeter not have a tie up with Exeter UNi like Bath do with Bath Uni?
Exeter Uni are a BUCS super league team after all and have been successful in seasons past.

I think the Prem Cup as an U25s competition with say 6 or 7 overage players max in a matchday squad would be a reasonable rule compromise.
I also think it a real shame the Champ clubs were dropped. Sure there were some mismatches but it did expose more players to a higher level of competition.

wrong thread



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:05:13:13:16 by theredseat.

Quote:

Dorset Boy
Do Exeter not have a tie up with Exeter UNi like Bath do with Bath Uni?
Exeter Uni are a BUCS super league team after all and have been successful in seasons past.

I think the Prem Cup as an U25s competition with say 6 or 7 overage players max in a matchday squad would be a reasonable rule compromise.
I also think it a real shame the Champ clubs were dropped. Sure there were some mismatches but it did expose more players to a higher level of competition.

Agree with this - for the Champ clubs every game was akin to a cup final which gave the cup some extra emotion. Jersey beating us was an incredible performance.

The Prem/Champ version of the PRC was a breath of fresh air to the Competition and a real shame both parties couldn’t find a way forward with it.
I really don’t want to play the same Prem team 4/5/6 times a season!

Quote:

tigersimon
The Prem/Champ version of the PRC was a breath of fresh air to the Competition and a real shame both parties couldn’t find a way forward with it.
I really don’t want to play the same Prem team 4/5/6 times a season!

Your last sentence chimes with my feelings too, it's all a bit repetitive now. The inclusion of champ clubs was a welcome innovation but here we are...

To be fair the Bath team that will be selected to play against Exeter will be completely to the Premiership team.

I acknowledge that the Exeter teams may be much more similar

I liked the champ being involved in the cup, seemed like a really good way of getting a wider based for pro rugby. Does anyone know why they knocked it on the head? I've got a horrible feeling it was due to people looking at their own narrow interests and no a bigger picture.

As I've said, I'm not really feeling the "repetitive game syndrome" so much. That said, I'm usually focuses on the 6Ns/AIs when they are on so the cup is easy to bypass. I think pool based cups are the only way forward really if you want clubs to get a consistent income from them. So four games against a small number of PREM teams seems inevitable. If you get them in a PREM final or I guess worse, European group then it will feel repetitive however many teams are in the league.

Ok, I'll revise my plan. We're never going to get two teams to drop from the PREM, even though at least two teams consistently don't draw gates that will ever support a PREM team. So a 10 team PREM (starting as is) and a 10 team CHAMP. Realistically including the reboots: Wasps, Wuss, Ealing, Coventry, Pirates, Bedford, Rotheram, Irish (somehow). Feels like the start of two very watchable leagues. A 20 team cup, 4 pools of 5, play once, two home games each (They can play twice, but hen you've got the repetitive game problem). Played during the 6Ns, so PREM teams are short their internationals and maybe a bit of rotation, but generally a full on competition. Use CHAMP games as curtain raisers for PREM games on TV and generally to expand freeview content.

Quote:

Treble

Quote:

tigersimon
The Prem/Champ version of the PRC was a breath of fresh air to the Competition and a real shame both parties couldn’t find a way forward with it.
I really don’t want to play the same Prem team 4/5/6 times a season!

Your last sentence chimes with my feelings too, it's all a bit repetitive now. The inclusion of champ clubs was a welcome innovation but here we are...

Likewise playing the same team 4/5/6 times is tedious, especially when there's a high chance of playing a PL team in Europe as well. No real interest in the Champ sides either though.

I'd happily see the PRC scrapped altogether and a properly funded A league instead with strict rules on who can play.

Teams up

Bath Rugby: 1 Ioan Emanuel, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards (c), 5 Ross Molony, 6 George Timmins, 7 Connor Treacey, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Sam Winters, 12 Jack Woods, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Austin Emens

Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx (debut), 19 Isaac Sprenger (debut), 20 Thompson Cowan, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Jack Woods, 23 Jaco Coetzee

2 Jack Woods?

Edit: In Social Media picture 12 is Jack Harrison



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:06:12:04:54 by tigersimon.

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Will Haydon-Wood

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Nick Lilley

12 Zack Wimbush

11 Ben Hammersley

10 Ben Coen

9 Sam Wolstenholme (c)

1 Archie McArthur

2 Louie Gulley

3 Ehren Painter

4 Lewis Pearson

5 Oscar Beckerleg

6 Joe Bailey

7 Finn Worley Brady

8 Carwyn Tuipulotu

Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven

17 Ethan Burger

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Obinna Nkwocha

20 Andre Goedhals

21 Jake Murray

22 Ollie Batson

23 Sam Harris

Quote:

tigersimon
Teams up
Bath Rugby: 1 Ioan Emanuel, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Ewan Richards (c), 5 Ross Molony, 6 George Timmins, 7 Connor Treacey, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Sam Winters, 12 Jack Woods, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Austin Emens

Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx (debut), 19 Isaac Sprenger (debut), 20 Thompson Cowan, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Jack Woods, 23 Jaco Coetzee

2 Jack Woods?

Edit: In Social Media picture 12 is Jack Harrison

Interesting 11-15 is a Bath Uni set of backs! Massive test and the new TH prop is straight on to the bench!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Boxing yourself into a bit of a corner though there OB? You want more games, well its assumed we definitely can't afford fewer, but you don't want to play the same teams too often and you don't want to play lesser teams.

My solution would be to make the lesser teams better, would that not work? If we had 20 teams that could genuinely compete as pros then English rugby is on a pretty firm footing. It's a resilient one as well, if a team is stagnating a bit they drop to the CHAMP and are replaced by an up and coming one. If they continue to stagnate a well set up team in Div1 gets the opportunity.

There was more talk about the Welsh joining which might work for you, but I can't see it happening. It would turn the URC into a joke so I think they are going fight it pretty hard. The RFU don't seem interested, and rightly so, their interest is promoting English rugby. Given the attendances the Welsh get I don't really see it doing the PREM much good, just let Wasps, Wuss or Ealing up. I don't see what the Welsh get out of it really? The WRU will still need to fund these teams to at least the same degree and they get more TV money in the URC. It looks like the PREM just want a silver bullet and the Welsh a silver thermonuclear device.

Quote:

tigersimon
Exeter Chiefs:
15 Will Haydon-Wood

14 Paul Brown-Bampoe

13 Nick Lilley

12 Zack Wimbush

11 Ben Hammersley

10 Ben Coen

9 Sam Wolstenholme (c)

1 Archie McArthur

2 Louie Gulley

3 Ehren Painter

4 Lewis Pearson

5 Oscar Beckerleg

6 Joe Bailey

7 Finn Worley Brady

8 Carwyn Tuipulotu

Replacements:

16 Julian Heaven

17 Ethan Burger

18 Jimmy Roots

19 Obinna Nkwocha

20 Andre Goedhals

21 Jake Murray

22 Ollie Batson

23 Sam Harris

There's an uncharacteristic lack of grizzled 29 year old first teamers in the Chiefs line up for once, the spirit of the competition is alive and well! This might actually be relatively competitive.

Jack Bennett injued? Thought he'd be pretty nailed on to be in the 23 for this one.

Seems to be the sort of squad most expected to see and imagine it will be fairly close. Exeter seem to have a few more seniors in the squad than us but (and this may be Bath bias talking) our younger group should have a bit of an edge from playing more senior games over the last couple of years. Exeter favourites but should be a good game

Time to add our new tighthead prop to my spellchecker it seems...

Quote:

theredseat
Time to add our new tighthead prop to my spellchecker it seems...

Just wait until you see his Instagram username...

Oh dear ........ that's not ideal!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

What looks like two reasonably matched teams. I did mention above that we didn't really have much choice.

The red seat, i wouldn't say we have many seniors in our team. Only Ehren Painter and Pearson fit into that category. Ehren is making his way back from a long injury and Pearson is very much a prem cup type player. Where i would agree with you is the recent game experience of your younger players, i think you'll have the edge there. Also, your half back combo looks good.

Hopefully its a good close game.

Seniors chronologically or seniors experientially? Haydon-Wood, Brown-Bampoe, Zack Wimbush and Ben Hammersley are well established are they not.

Having said that it's not as loaded with first team players as previously.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Quote:

shipwrecked
Seniors chronologically or seniors experientially? Haydon-Wood, Brown-Bampoe, Zack Wimbush and Ben Hammersley are well established are they not.
Having said that it's not as loaded with first team players as previously.

Yeah I'm counting all of them plus Wolstenholme and Roots. They're all mid 20s at least and have been in plenty of (non Prem Cup) match day squads including European games. For the purposes of this competition they're senior pros

Quote:

theredseat

Quote:

shipwrecked
Seniors chronologically or seniors experientially? Haydon-Wood, Brown-Bampoe, Zack Wimbush and Ben Hammersley are well established are they not.
Having said that it's not as loaded with first team players as previously.

Yeah I'm counting all of them plus Wolstenholme and Roots. They're all mid 20s at least and have been in plenty of (non Prem Cup) match day squads including European games. For the purposes of this competition they're senior pros

It's all down to interpretation really, I'd class a senior player as someone over twenty five with a decent amount of first team caps. In which case none of the above would count. As its so open to interpretation no one can really be right, or wrong! Take Jimmy Roots it would be esay to argue that he was senior player and just as easy to argue he isn't!

Again, what is the purpose of the prem cup? Is it solely to develop younger players or to give the wider squad, or those returning from injury game time. The lack of any real rules or guidelines mean we end up having such different approaches to the cup. We also end up with discussions on every board about the relative strengths of each side. And accusations that teams are not in the spirt of the comp, whatever that is!! The daft thing is over the years every team has gone stronger at sone point!

Here's hoping for a good game though. The selections have increased my interest.

Not disagreeing Big Chief Little Chief, but just for context, from memory Bath used something like 49 players in last year’s Prem Cup of whom 11 were making their debuts. JvG has always been clear about using this essentially as a development and injury recovery opportunity, but equally he’s also acknowledged that whilst that’s the right model for Bath it may not be for others which is fair enough whilst there are no restrictive guidelines.

Can't wait. This has been such a vital development tool for us, also excited is the fact its on youtube.

Watched game between Northampton and Leicester - showed the benefit of a great attack coach, so many of the Northampton players looked like they could step straight into a lot of Prem teams. Only downside of a very enjoyable game was the stupid use of a drone camera which added nothing a spoiled watching several good back moves - hope this does not catch on.

Quote:

warrenball
Watched game between Northampton and Leicester - showed the benefit of a great attack coach, so many of the Northampton players looked like they could step straight into a lot of Prem teams. Only downside of a very enjoyable game was the stupid use of a drone camera which added nothing a spoiled watching several good back moves - hope this does not catch on.

Warrenball & others,

Please vote on my opinions on TNT Drone camera poll
[www.rugbynetwork.net]

I will pass results on to TNT.

TCS opens the scoring next to the posts.
Been all Bath so far,

Quote:

Dorset Boy
TCS opens the scoring next to the posts.
Been all Bath so far,

Made by a defence splitting break by Sam Winters up the middle from left wing!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Bath score a second following an Arthur Green line break

I think on any new camera angle it takes time to get the direction right. I don't mind them trying things out.

Claudius Wheeler on for Ioan Emmanuel, injury.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Exeter hit back with Carwyn Tuipulotu.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:07:15:50:08 by shipwrecked.

Off the post from a halfway pen from Ciarran Donnoghue HT 12-17


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

17-12 to Bath at HT, Donoghue hitting the post with a 50m penalty on stroke of HT, and it stayed out.
Exeter upper hand in scrum, but Bath looking really good everywhere else.

Exeter have another huge Tuipolotu

Quote:

Dorset Boy
Exeter upper hand in scrum, but Bath looking really good everywhere else.

Looks like Claudius Wheeler struggling a bit against Painter since Ioan Emmanuel went off. I think Jasper Spandler took a knock as well.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:07:15:56:27 by shipwrecked.

Scrums are even aren't they apart from one pen?

They just seem heavier and more direct in the forward carrying from 15 metres out

Our running lines and offloading is very good. Kick chase catch and support for the aerial tap back are massive improvement on recent weeks

Sigh - getting frustrated with the coverage constantly missing live play because of multiple replays

Very happy with how we’re playing however

’’Paint the whole world with a rainbow”

Interesting to see how Sprengher goes at lock and Camerlinckx at TH, Jack Woods has had nothing to do!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Sam Harris as always pretty lethal given space, 19-27


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Brilliant score for Max Pearce ,driving maul from the 22 great control, George Timmins having a stormer.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Nice to see Sam Harris looking fit and well - nearly as nice as seeing us get a 5 point win!

Really great performance

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this competition, this has been a really fun game to watch

Really good performance from the youngsters, nice to see them playing with pace and intensity

’’Paint the whole world with a rainbow”

Really impressive performance overall. A few errors in the second half as it looked like some players were tiring, but 5 points in the bag and nothing for Exeter.

They're a very talented bunch of youngsters.

Tackling in midfield far better than the senior team, as commentary noted half backs ran the game for Bath. Ieuan Davies continued it after TCS went off.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Really pleasing performance, well done lads!

Watched the second half - certainly a lot better than 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿's second half!

Very professional performance which is an amazing compliment when you consider 20 of the 23 are under 25 and out played Exeter away.

Hats off to our pathways team as all but Molony, Emens, Camerlinckcx and Coetzee have come through the Academy or Scholars pathway.

Who was man of the match?

Quote:

OutsideBath
Who was man of the match?

The commentators were desperate to give it to an Exeter player comically.
I think in the end they gave it to Donoghue

Quote:

OutsideBath
Who was man of the match?

Ciaran Donoghue


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Quote:

shipwrecked

Quote:

OutsideBath
Who was man of the match?

Ciaran Donoghue

Thanks, that’s good to hear

Well done Bath!!

Does anyone know whether there will be highlights available to those of us unwilling to buy a third Rugby channel?

Highlights - or the whole match - is on YouTube

The whole thing was free on YouTube!

Doh! I didn't realise.......!

Thank you

Quote:

hasta
The whole thing was free on YouTube!

Yep thanks to Tigersimon for the heads up. Great performance from Ciaran whose game management was impeccable I thought. Mixed his kicking, passing and going straight very well. The oppo didn’t know how to handle it. Well done lads and Ciaran.👏👏👏



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:07:22:23:35 by CoochieCoo.

Well done on an excellent performance from a Chief.
Donaghue was great. Good to see a team playing some fast paced accurate rugby, handling and passing was on point….we are well off the pace currently

I loved that game.

We played with so much freedom and the offloading was at times unreal.

Donoghue played very well, for me he is not quite a flyhalf he loves running at the line, but sometimes too much. I honestly think fullback would be ideal for him with his strike running.
Nonetheless, he is so talented and well played.

What a great bunch of youth players showcasing their abilities, Offiah with his athleticism, Winters with his footwork. Green, we have a player there, our near future no 8. Richards, Malony, Carr-Smith, everyone played so well!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:08:03:32:19 by exbathballboy.

I also loved that game.

As always in these sorts of games the individual performances through the match and collectively was a bit of a mixed bag.

Really strong tho overall with loads of positives and a great victory to keep our chances of progression alive.

New chap at tighthead looks like he has the raw materials and sured the scrum up a bit.

Great for the young guys to have ruchards in there leading them.

Arthur green is always a great watch as he does this werird thing called running at gaps which a lot of the senior guys could learn from.

Thought timmins was good- v useful lineout option.

Praying donoghue stays fit as starting to find his feet again nicely.

Still think winters is the class act of our young back 3 options- like green he runs good lines at space, often tight to rucks.

Ratings which i broadly agree with:

[www.somersetlive.co.uk]

That performance was a validation (not that any was really needed) of the value of long term strategic investment of resources into the Development Pathway, the partnership with schools and university and JvG’s emphasis on the importance of the “purples” as an integral part of the squad development.

Just watched it as live,

Excellent and enjoyable match

There's 23 players who individually could stand in alongside 22 from the senior squad.

Many players stood out but was very impressed with Richards.....who we have to keep!!!

Nice to see Sam Harris fit and well

Good to see a win by the younger team - also good that Exeter matched the squads so it wasn’t some kind of men vs boys.

Thought Donoghue was exceptionally good and gives me hope that after Finn we have a succession plan.

Good stuff to see all round. Green also a stand out, we need to lock him down to a long term contract!

So by my reckoning we have already used 55 players this year ..... add in Bhatti, Muir and Sela then we will be nearing 60 by the end of the season.

Our development pathways and PRC exposure over the last couple of years have seriously strengthened squad depth.

Quote:

CoochieCoo

Quote:

hasta
The whole thing was free on YouTube!

Yep thanks to Tigersimon for the heads up. Great performance from Ciaran whose game management was impeccable I thought. Mixed his kicking, passing and going straight very well. The oppo didn’t know how to handle it. Well done lads and Ciaran.👏👏👏

Totally agree CC. Last season I had Donoghue down as a classy Bendy type 15 who could fill in at 10

Yesterday was an excellent all round 10 performance. His 50:22 was superb in timing and execution. Distribution, running and game management near perfect

When Exeter scored one of their early tries you could see that Richards was very upset and lip reading he said the Exeter player had dropped it.

However, knowing there was nothing to do about it just got on with it.

Also when 1 and 8 were called offside by the ref, it was clear when You Tube ran the replay that they weren't....they were just very quick.