On the same day that close to 10,000 fans attended a pre-season family fun day event, Bath announced their senior and academy squads had been ‘locked in’ for the 2025/26 campaign.
Hordes of blue, black and white supporters descended on The Rec in bright, Bank Holiday Monday sunshine, as they had done three months earlier at Twickenham when the club was anointed as Premiership champions for the first time in the competition’s history after a tense 23-21 victory over Leicester.
Bath had gone one better than the previous year when they just missed out on the title to Northampton, and the task now is to raise standards even further.
Given that they won the Premiership, the EPCR Challenge Cup and the Premiership Rugby Cup, that is no mean feat. But Johann van Graan, the mastermind behind Bath’s resurgence, will stick to his mantra that every week is a new week and that what has gone before is irrelevant in the here and the now.
Bath have prioritised quality over quantity in their recruitment, bringing in a handful of new players – two (Henry Arundell and Dan Frost) with former connections to Bath – while cutting several fringe players and those nearing the end of their careers. The chasing pack won’t want to admit it, but all in all, the squad looks stronger as a result.
Senior Squad
Hooker: Tom Dunn, Dan Frost, Jasper Spandler
It is hard to imagine a Bath squad not featuring the old warhorse Tom Dunn. A double centurion in terms of club appearances, Dunn will be 33 in November, so the acquisition of Dan Frost, one who got away, having previously been in the club’s academy, is a major tick in the box in terms of succession planning. Frost’s dynamic play and the emergence of England U20s ace, Kepueli Tuipulotu, ensure Bath are well stocked at hooker. 8/10
Loose-head: Beno Obano, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk
While the tussle for the tight-head jersey between Thomas du Toit and Will Stuart is a tight one, Obano is very much Bath’s first-choice loose-head and talisman. Ignored again by England, Obano only missed two league games last season, starting 14, so Bath desperately need him to stay fit. Francois van Wyk provides good back-up and had a few highlight reel moments himself, but Miley Summerfield is still very green in terms of experience. 7/10
Tight-head: Thomas du Toit, Archie Griffin, Will Stuart, Kieran Verden
In Thomas du Toit, Bath possess one of the best tight-heads in the world. On top of his scrummaging, the low body angle that du Toit manages close to the try line makes him virtually unstoppable, enabling him to have a try-scoring strike rate that would be the envy of most back-three players. However, with du Toit back in favour with the Boks and Lions tourist, Will Stuart, a permanent fixture with England and Archie Griffin in the Wales set-up, Bath’s tight-head resources will be stretched at times. Vilikesa Sela is likely to have a significant role to play in the early stages of the season, whilst du Toit and Stuart are being phased back in following their international commitments. Interestingly, Cup regular Kieran Verden has won a new deal, despite the club originally announcing him as one of their leavers. 9/10
Lock: Charlie Ewels, Ross Molony, Quinn Roux
What Bath’s locks lack in athleticism and lineout pilfering, they more than make up for it in bulk and physical presence. Ted Hill had to step into the row on occasion last season out of necessity, but the reigning champions remain a little light – in numbers, not kilos – in this area. Bath will be looking for a strong second season from Cup regulars, Harvey Cuckson and Will Jeanes. 7.5/10
Back-row: Alfie Barbeary, Josh Bayliss, Jaco Coetzee, Thompson Cowan, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Miles Reid, Ewan Richards, Ethan Staddon, Sam Underhill
Back-row selection calls are probably as tight as Alfie Barbeary’s budgie smugglers, given the talent at Bath’s disposal in this area. Once Jaco Coetzee returns from his horrific knee injury, Bath will have two specialist No.8s as well as multiple players who can slot in at the back of the pack. The versatility of players like Josh Bayliss, Miles Reid and Guy Pepper means that Bath rarely struggle to field a top-quality back row even when hit by injuries, international call-ups and suspensions. Hopefully, the world-class Sam Underhill has checked out of tackle school for good. 9.5/10
Scrum-half: Tom Carr-Smith, Neil Le Roux, Ben Spencer, Bernard van der Linde
While Ben Spencer is Bath’s general, Tom Carr-Smith has moved up to the rank of senior lieutenant. Over the course of last season, Carr-Smith overtook the departing Louis Schreuder in the scrum-half pecking order and is viewed as the long-term successor to Spencer, who turned 33 in July. Bernard van der Linde replaces fellow South African Schreuder. He was the third-choice nine at the Bulls behind Zach Burger and Embrose Papier. Bath are maybe still a bit light in Premiership know-how behind the frontline duo. 7.5/10
Fly-half: Ciaran Donoghue, Sam Harris, Finn Russell
Orlando Bailey has gone to Leicester, but in my mind, he never grasped the opportunities to deputise for Finn Russell in the same way that Ciaran Donoghue did last season. With Russell set for an extended break following the Lions tour, the exceptionally talented Donoghue will relish the responsibility of driving the team forward. Sam Harris is due some good luck on the injury front, and the hope is that he will also make a significant and lasting impression before too long, to add further depth to Bath’s playmaking options, while new signing Santiago Carreras has played Test rugby at 10. 8.5/10
Centre: Will Butt, Chris Harris, Louie Hennessey, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh, Cameron Redpath
Another area where Bath are stacked with talent, especially with the addition of Gloucester and Scotland’s former defensive leader, Chris Harris. Max Ojomoh finished the season playing out of his skin, and Ollie Lawrence is recovering well from the torn Achilles that sidelined him for the second half of last season. The talk is that Lawrence may even be back for the start of the PREM season, if not before. If Cam Redpath can stay injury-free, there’s a possibility of an all-Scottish 10-12-13 axis. However, that combination has only ever been fielded once in dark blue, so it’s not as though there’s a telepathic understanding between the trio. Will Butt did a good job as a gainline busting 12 in the absence of Lawrence, and ex-Wales U20 international Louie Hennessey, who was released to Cardiff on loan last season, will also be knocking at the door. 9/10
Wing: Henry Arundell, Joe Cokanasiga, Will Muir
Henry Arundell’s return to the Premiership gives Bath a different type of threat out wide, his elusiveness complementing the power game of Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir. Ruaridh McConnochie was a great servant to Bath last year, so his decision to move into coaching weakens Bath’s options. However, Tyler Offiah will be looking to make 2025/26 a breakthrough season after playing in fits and starts last year. Also, Tom de Glanville can fill in on the wing if needed. 8/10
Full-back: Santi Carreras, Tom de Glanville, Austin Emens
Bath were heavily reliant on the dependable de Glanville last season, following the departure of Matt Gallagher and the injury to Sam Harris, and he didn’t let the side down. Even so, the arrival of Carreras, and Arundell’s and Donoghue’s ability to play 15, makes them look much less exposed at full-back if there are injuries. The jury is still out on Austin Emens. 9/10
Overall rating: 83/100
*Players listed in alphabetical order.
