BACK TO THE PREM CUP, AWAY AT EXETER
Coetzee: to start?
IMAGO/Action Plus
By Bath Supporter Jack
November 3 2026
So, this topsy turvy season where in the last three weekends we have played two PREM league games, one European game and now play Exeter away in a PREM CUP game continues. This game comes not a moment too soon as the Strength and Conditioning Team now have three weeks of PREM CUP games before the Premiership fixtures recommence on the 4th of December home against Bristol to work their “magic”. This block of three games gives the Club an opportunity to rest some players and to open a return to match fitness for some players returning from injury like Jaco Coetzee, Henry Arundell and maybe Will Muir at some point in this block.
I have included Ollie Lawrence as I feel he needs game time and what better way to achieve this with less pressure.
Exeter, having struggled across the first few weeks of the season, are now second from bottom in the Premiership, have normally gone very strong in this Cup. However, our PREM CUP team has always stepped up, and I expect them to do so again, even against a heavyweight Exeter team.
I asked a dear friend, and Exeter season ticket holder to pen some words, “Since first watching Exeter in the lower leagues over thirty years ago I looked up to Bath as one of giants of the English game. The rise of Chiefs over the years to now regularly playing against Bath has been a great journey to be on, and the games between the Clubs have often been epic battles, exhausting and exciting to watch by both sets of fans. This season has not been a good start for Chiefs, after the unexpected heights of the Prem Final in June. Injuries have played their part resulting in, what appears to be, an enforced team selection and sometimes a disconnected playing style with plenty of mistakes. We’ll welcome Bath to Sandy Park of the PREM Rugby Cup, I’m sure there will be 23 Chiefs ready to play.”
Possible Team subject to injury
15 Jack Woods
14 Tyler Offiah
13 Louie Hennesy
12 Ollie Lawrence
11 Henry Arundell
10 Ciaren Donoghue
9 Bernard Van de Linde
8 Jaco Coetzee
7 George Timmins
6 Jack Bennett
5 Ewan Richards
4 Will Jeanes
3 Kieran Verden
2 Dan Frost
1 Ioan Emmanuel
16 Jasper Spandler
17 Claudius Wheeler
18 James Maloney
19 Enoch Epoku-Gyamfi
20 Alex Ridgway
21 Tom Carr Smith
22 Tom de Glanville
23 Sam Winters
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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
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!
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.
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
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.
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 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.
Quote: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 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.
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
Of course you are right......senior moment on my behalf.......but what I wrote remains valid otherwise.