EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Richards: convincing
IMAGO/PPAUK
By theredseat
November 10 2026
That was a pretty enjoyable start to the PREM Cup block was it not? Ewan Richards led his crew of mostly fringe first teamers, prospects and students down to Sandy Park and produced arguably the most convincing 80 minutes of rugby a Bath team has managed all season. The Cup rolls on with Gloucester coming down the M5 to visit The Rec this weekend with both teams holding one win and one defeat from their opening two fixtures.
Bath continue to use the PREM Cup to mostly build experience for younger players and the expectation would be a broadly similar line up to be used again for this fixture. Unsurprisingly it was the younger players with more significant first team experience in the likes of Arthur Green and Ciaran Donoghue who particularly stood out in Exeter but with plenty of key PREM and Euro fixtures still to come it will be interesting to see if they are given a full block of Cup games to show what we know they can do or whether they are deployed more sparingly with future battles in mind.
Most recent injury reports from Rory Murray’s desk suggest an imminent return to play for one or two first team squad members with Will Muir a possibility to occupy Horse Corner again on Saturday. The game may come too soon for Vilkesa Sela though who was previously targeting a late November come back. We may also see a pre-league tune up for Quinn Roux in the next fortnight now his hush hush training knock seems to be sorted.
For the visitors who are now right in the thick of the playoff picture and with their own cohort of stars away on international duty it seems safe to assume they will send a similarly developmental line up. Some names to watch out for include the Knight brothers and Junior Denny who are exciting athletes in the back line and the quadruple barrelled forward combo of Freddie Ogden-Metherell and Kealan Freeman-Price. All have featured in England’s recent age group squads and should offer a good comparison for some of our own young prospects.
EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 08:21
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Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: P G Tips (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 08:24
Thanks trs
I think - and very much hope- that Bath will stick to recent script and deploy the "Purples" for these early rounds as much as possible.
Maybe we will go stronger in the knockout phases, depending in progress in other competitions?
PG
I think - and very much hope- that Bath will stick to recent script and deploy the "Purples" for these early rounds as much as possible.
Maybe we will go stronger in the knockout phases, depending in progress in other competitions?
PG
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Optimist (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 09:24
I don't much mind who Bath field as long as the two teams are well-matched in terms of first-teamers/fringe players. A sold out Rec deserves a really good contest.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Bath Supporter Jack (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 10:46
100%
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Bath Supporter Jack (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 11:58
I `would pick the same squad as for Exeter with of course room for a Muir return!
Great title!!
Great title!!
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Dorset Boy (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 12:33
JvG did say that most of the first team squad were on a 12 day break after the Sale game so it will be a similar set up this weekend to last I'd expect.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: theredseat (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 13:20
Sam Winters on duty for the Uni side tomorrow night which would presumably rule him out of starting on Saturday. Given he played on the left wing last week that seems a reasonable indicator of seeing Muir back on the field for this one. Just call me the Horse Whisperer if so...
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Mike the Taxi (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 14:07
Quote:theredseat
Sam Winters on duty for the Uni side tomorrow night which would presumably rule him out of starting on Saturday. Given he played on the left wing last week that seems a reasonable indicator of seeing Muir back on the field for this one. Just call me the Horse Whisperer if so...
...or Hoarse Whisperer?
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: shipwrecked (IP Logged)
Date: 10/11/2026 17:50
Quote:theredseat
Sam Winters on duty for the Uni side tomorrow night which would presumably rule him out of starting on Saturday. Given he played on the left wing last week that seems a reasonable indicator of seeing Muir back on the field for this one. Just call me the Horse Whisperer if so...
Perhaps, but equally it might mean the Jack Woods fills that spot as he is not in the uni 23.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Charlieboa1 (IP Logged)
Date: 11/11/2026 06:56
Will be an interesting selection.
Assume/ hope we will see a similar group over the next 2 fixtures but would be great to see the likes of sela, roux, DDP, muir come back in for a game if ready.
Largely <23 players supplemented by a few experienced guys is always the right blend for me in this comp.
You want to get through to get more games into our massive squad
Assume/ hope we will see a similar group over the next 2 fixtures but would be great to see the likes of sela, roux, DDP, muir come back in for a game if ready.
Largely <23 players supplemented by a few experienced guys is always the right blend for me in this comp.
You want to get through to get more games into our massive squad
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: gaz59 (IP Logged)
Date: 11/11/2026 11:54
Really good review and great title
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: exbathballboy (IP Logged)
Date: 11/11/2026 19:50
Would love to see the same approach again, a mix of youth with first team fringe players getting minutes.
Also same approach with playing style, offloads, being more expansive and allowing players freedom to play, as this is a development tournament more than anything.
Also same approach with playing style, offloads, being more expansive and allowing players freedom to play, as this is a development tournament more than anything.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Bath Hammer (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 00:01
We need to retain the progress we achieved against Exeter to have a chance against Gloucester. They beat us soundly recently & are deservedly above us in the table.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: theredseat (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:04
Bath Rugby: 1 Jacob Yates (debut), 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ewan Richards (c), 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Jack Harrison, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods
Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Connor Treacey, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Will Roue, 23 Austin Emens
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:13:12:06:16 by theredseat.
Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Connor Treacey, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Will Roue, 23 Austin Emens
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:13:12:06:16 by theredseat.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Tlacey90 (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:04
Similar to last week with Yates in for Emmanuel who got injured at Chiefs in first half and Richards moving to 6. Return for Muir and Roux.
Bath Rugby: 1 Jacob Yates (debut), 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ewan Richards (c), 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Jack Harrison, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods
Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Connor Treacey, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Will Roue, 23 Austin Emens
Gloucester have some experience at half back and Joyce in 2nd row and recognise some of the back row.
15 | Josh Hathaway (#2001), 14 | Ben Redshaw (#2065) 13 | Josiah Edwards-Giraud (#2049) 12 | Max Knight (#2026) 11 | Junior Denny (#2072) 10 | Ross Byrne (#2045) 09 | Mikey Austin (#2040) 1 | Harrison Bellamy (#2022) 2 | Kealan Freeman-Price (#2059) 3 | Eliot Salt (DEBUT) 4 | Joe Joyce (#2071) 5 | Jack Mann (#2063) 6 | Harry Taylor (C) (#1991) 7 | James Venter (#2046) 8 | Deian Gwynne (#2031)
Replacements
16 | George Knowles (#2034) 17 | Joe Cowell (LOAN / DEBUT) 18 | Harry Wright (#2052) 19 | Jack Gilbert (#2037) 20 | Caio James (#2025) 21 | Luca Woodyatt (DEBUT) 22 | Zac Jones (DEBUT) 23 | Krystof Wood (DEBUT)
Bath Rugby: 1 Jacob Yates (debut), 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ewan Richards (c), 7 George Timmins, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Will Muir, 12 Jack Harrison, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods
Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Connor Treacey, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 Will Roue, 23 Austin Emens
Gloucester have some experience at half back and Joyce in 2nd row and recognise some of the back row.
15 | Josh Hathaway (#2001), 14 | Ben Redshaw (#2065) 13 | Josiah Edwards-Giraud (#2049) 12 | Max Knight (#2026) 11 | Junior Denny (#2072) 10 | Ross Byrne (#2045) 09 | Mikey Austin (#2040) 1 | Harrison Bellamy (#2022) 2 | Kealan Freeman-Price (#2059) 3 | Eliot Salt (DEBUT) 4 | Joe Joyce (#2071) 5 | Jack Mann (#2063) 6 | Harry Taylor (C) (#1991) 7 | James Venter (#2046) 8 | Deian Gwynne (#2031)
Replacements
16 | George Knowles (#2034) 17 | Joe Cowell (LOAN / DEBUT) 18 | Harry Wright (#2052) 19 | Jack Gilbert (#2037) 20 | Caio James (#2025) 21 | Luca Woodyatt (DEBUT) 22 | Zac Jones (DEBUT) 23 | Krystof Wood (DEBUT)
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Optimist (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:05
Glos look a wee bit rawer than us - not that I know their squad desperately well ... ?
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: theredseat (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:06
JC23 wearing 20. Feels weird. Don't like it.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: shipwrecked (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:30
Jack Harrison is very strong in defense. George Timmins second game in a row, won a lot of line out ball last game.
Jack Woods fully deserves his place in a strong back line he is only 5 ft 10 in and 88 kg but is an elusive and powerful runner. Muir and Offiah on the wings might indicate an aerial approach. That's a strong bench as well. A great mix of a young front row with experienced locks. I suspect it will be too strong for Gloucester.
Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
Jack Woods fully deserves his place in a strong back line he is only 5 ft 10 in and 88 kg but is an elusive and powerful runner. Muir and Offiah on the wings might indicate an aerial approach. That's a strong bench as well. A great mix of a young front row with experienced locks. I suspect it will be too strong for Gloucester.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Dorset Boy (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:35
Where has Jacob Yates come from?
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: shipwrecked (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:44
Quote:Dorset Boy
Where has Jacob Yates come from?
Loose head prop from Bath Uni (final year.) regular starter in the double winning season last year.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: Shadders (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:54
Both front rows look kind of 3/4th choice. Our back row is stronger. I recognise most of their backs, that should be a better match. Home advantage, stronger pack.... we should win by 15 at least.
And great to see Horse back! Let's hope he comes through unscathed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:13:12:55:45 by Shadders.
And great to see Horse back! Let's hope he comes through unscathed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:11:13:12:55:45 by Shadders.
Re: EWAN WHOSE ARMY. BATH v GLOUCESTER
Posted by: theredseat (IP Logged)
Date: 13/11/2026 12:59
Quote:Shadders
Both front rows look kind of 3/4th choice. Our back row is stronger. I recognise most of their backs, that should be a better match. Home advantage, stronger pack.... we should win by 15 at least.
And great to see Horse back! Let's hope he comes through unscathed.
Not sure there's loads in it for the back rows. Venter is a really solid, experienced player that gets through loads of work and Gwynne is going to earn plenty of Welsh caps in the next few years - wouldn't bet against him earning them as captain at some point either.
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