Bath
PRE SEASON SERIES. BATH v GLASGOW WARRIORS
Donoghue: massive test
By shipwrecked
September 2 2025
H - The Rec Sat 6 Sep - 15:00 – Bath v Glasgow Warriors Pre-Season SeriesA - Virgin Media Park - Fri 12 Sep - 19:00 - Munster Rugby Pre-Season SeriesA - Sixways Stadium - Fri 19 Sep - 19:45 - Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby After a summer that involved Will Stuart and Finn Russell in a triumphant Lions tour to add to their rugby CVs, a controversial prospect of a World Exhibition tour (R360), a long-awaited financial rescue and renaming of Newcastle Red Bulls and a major reorganisation of Welsh Rugby (finalised in October) the Gallagher Premiership is close to commencing a new season.
From the article preceding this the general feeling currently is that we will have some serious competition but confidence couldn’t be higher.
We have every right to look forward to being in contention for more silverware however, its not at all straight forward as it seems. The reason being that team selection for the Pre-Season Series and early games will be complicated by the need to accommodate rest and recuperation time for Will Stuart and Finn Russell but also for Santi Carreras given his games in the Rugby Championship for Argentina, together with Thomas Du Toit’s games for South Africa.
What will the Bath Pre Season Squad look like?
Orlando Bailey’s transfer to Leicester Tigers means there is almost certainly a need for Ciaran Donoghue to step in at fly half.
It’s a role he has fulfilled magnificently at the end of last season but to place a 22-year-old in this crucial role over the initial 6 weeks of the preseason and season games will be a massive test for him.
He will of course get considerable help from his fellow outside backs in the form of Cam Redpath, Chris Harris (new signing), Will Butt, Max Ojomoh and Tom de Glanville.
Inside him at scrum half will be either the ever-reliable Ben Spencer or his rapidly maturing back up Tom Carr-Smith.
Another big signing returning to the UK from abroad who should probably feature in 2 of the 3 preseason games will be Henry Arundel who started his rugby career in England so spectacularly with that breathtaking try against Toulon for London Irish. Some doubt his pedigree given his recent spell at Racing 92 but the one thing any wing needs is outright pace; Henry Arundel has bucket loads of pace so I expect our backs, whoever they are, to put him into areas to release this electric speedster.
Whilst the backs will have a few new faces the main powerhouse of our club has been our pack of forwards. Missing Thomas du Toit and Will Stuart would be a serious loss for many packs but JvG’s rotation policy last year allowed others to slot in seamlessly to gaps.
Kepu Tuipuloto and Billy Sela will surely feature from the bench this season and Ewan Richards will be seen starting more matches in 2025 I feel. As a player and leader, he seems to have been with the club for years but he is still only 23!
Archie Griffin, Tom Dunn and Beno Obano should be our solid starting front row with Richards and Roux featuring in the tough Glasgow fixture. Archie Griffin as far as I can see does not have to have a mandatory rest given his tour of Japan with Wales.
Back row will be a furious scrabble for places with no less than 10 senior candidates chasing 3 slots and Green, Treacy and Timmins putting their hand up in the academy.
What of Glasgow Warriors our first preseason opponents?
The biggest export from Glasgow Warriors has to be by a considerable distance the Rec’s favourite, Finn Russell. He made his debut for Glasgow in 2012 and played a crucial role in their 2015 Pro12 title win before representing the British & Irish Lions in 2017, 2021 and 2025 where he played in all three tests. His first Scotland cap of 87 in total was in 2014.
It would have been nice to see him run out against the club that launched his career but he will not do so as a result of the mandatory rest periods implemented by the RFU and World Rugby.
Glasgow Warriors have taken a big step in signing Dan Lancaster from Racing 92 in the break. Whilst Dan Lancaster (son of ex England coach Stuart) is England qualified he also qualifies for Scotland through his Dumfries-born grandmother. Lancaster made the most of his time at Racing 92 during the same period as Owen Farrell and Henry Arundell. Whist Arundell started well then dropped out of contention. Owen Farrell once recovered from injury was regularly eclipsed by Dan Lancaster who started at centre before moving to the fly half position regularly running the game with Nollan Le Garrec and place kicking with considerable success.
Had Finn Russell been playing the match up would have been fascinating, as it is he will be opposite Ciarran Donoghue so hopefully we will be treated to two young fly halves eager to impress.
The second Glasgow signing brings a strange family confluence. As stated in the first part of the preview it is not unreasonable to expect Bath’s Kepu Tuipulotu to feature from the bench. Remembering that Sione Tuipulotu features at centre the youngest of the brothers Ottavio Tuipulotu also known as Tavi, has signed on as a hooker. Reports are that he is the best of the three brothers though you would have to say they are all top, top players. This could mean that we literally get a head-to-head contest in the preseason game with Kepu and Tavi as opposing hookers!
Other interesting match ups would be in the back row where Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper could clash with Rory Darge at openside and Matt Fagerson and Ted Hill featuring at blind side.
As mentioned previously the financial rescue of Newcastle by Red Bull has seen a refreshing input of recruits as the rebuild commences. The rebuild extends to management with a strong rumour that the Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend could replace Steve Diamond.
The extension of that rumour is that Franco Smith the current Glasgow Warriors coach could be elevated to the national coach which would obviously leave a vacancy.
If we wanted to extend the family convergence scenario to its extreme then what could be more fitting than Stuart Lancaster, another Racing 92 ex following his son Dan to take over at Glasgow.
All in all, there are plenty of talking points surrounding the first preseason game but for most of us its just good to be talking about Bath rugby again, here is hoping we can continue our magnificently successful run under Johann van Graan but this season everybody will be out to knock us off our perch and many of our competitors have improved their squads to do exactly that. Whatever happens smiles have returned to the Rec.
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02/09/2025 08:36
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:09:08:27:24 by P G Tips.
Interesting rumour about Lancaster and youngsters.
Potentially Glasgow can field a highly potent backline defence (much more experienced than the PRC backlines Donoghue shredded last season). Jones and Tuipolotu will be on Lions' rest period but that still leaves the options of Weir/Hastings, MacDowall, Savala, Steyn, Rowe, Ollie Smith.
A massive test for Donoghue indeed. His natural talent is evident but it will be a big step up to run a backline and control a game against that sort of defence. He could also be up against some gnarly backrowers- perhaps M Fagerson returning from injury & Rory Darge?
PG
P.S. Let's trust that we send them home again to Think Again.............................. (sorry).
Quote:P G Tips
Thanks for the article sw.
Interesting rumour about Lancaster and youngsters.
Potentially Glasgow can field a highly potent backline defence (much more experienced than the PRC backlines Donoghue shredded last season). Jones and Tuipolotu will be on Lions' rest period but that still leaves the options of Weir/Hastings, MacDowall, Savala, Steyn, Rowe, Ollie Smith.
A massive test for Donoghue indeed. His natural talent is evident but it will be a big step up to run a backline and control a game against that sort of defence. He could also be up against some gnarly backrowers- perhaps M Fagerson returning from injury & Rory Darge?
PG
Darge should feature but not sure about Fagerson following injury, back row is always a good watch as you point out PG
Would be good to see him on the bench for the odd game
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
Where is Sam Harris now in terms of his recovery?
Would be good to see him on the bench for the odd game
Sam Harris suffered an ACL injury to his left knee. He underwent surgery for the injury and was sidelined for the rest of last season. I can't find a recent injury update, any inside info?
Quote:Dorset Boy
Gregor townsend has signed a contract extension with the SRU to the end of the 2027 world cup
A good thing for Scotland. Not sure another father and son situation is healthy however, he was there on merit being one ion the best backs at Racing 92. He will be interesting to watch at the weekend.
Last year the home friendly was streamed on Bath's TikTok I wonder if that will be repeated.
Designed in Scotland | Made in the West Country
Comments are:
The rationale is that Arundell adds searing pace, with Carreras capable of covering fly-half. Hill covers lock, so I have loaded the bench with three back-rowers including the rampaging Coetzee (wearing 23 because Bath do it that way). Pepper, a magnificent player, could start ahead of, or in tandem with, Underhill. Van Graan will go for a seven-one split if he so desires.
Strengths: Yes, lots of them. The reigning champions have consolidated cleverly again. Frost, for instance, is a smart signing.
Weaknesses: Talk about good headaches. Keeping everyone happy over the course of the season could become a challenge, so expect more rotation.
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
Mmmmmmhhhhhhh....no Tom De Glanville...that can't be right??
TDG will get PLENTY of game time this season, don't worry about that.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
As an aside, the Telegraph's pick of Reid at 8 feels big. If the shirt is his to lose going into the season, and he rises to the challenge, he should be in content for international honours in the autumn/6Ns.
2024/25 adoptee: Guy Pepper
Quote:shipwreckedQuote:Bath Supporter Jack
Where is Sam Harris now in terms of his recovery?
Would be good to see him on the bench for the odd game
Sam Harris suffered an ACL injury to his left knee. He underwent surgery for the injury and was sidelined for the rest of last season. I can't find a recent injury update, any inside info?
Did it start of Feb so 7 months into rehab.
0robably a month or two away still if it's gone well? Could time well for prem Cup (is there prem Cup during autumn series this year?)
Fingers crossed for him- deserves a huge dollop of luck this season
Quote:BathMatt53Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
Mmmmmmhhhhhhh....no Tom De Glanville...that can't be right??
TDG will get PLENTY of game time this season, don't worry about that.
Definitely.
I think he will start more games than he doesn't either at 15 or wing, with santi as back up to finn.
Had s v good season last season.
I fully expect the likes of Tuipulotu, Sela, Staddon, Sam Harris and O'Donoghue to get plenty of game time this season and I would not be surprised if there is a serious battle between Dunny, Frost and Tuipulotu for the starting No 2 shirt come the back end of the season - certainly to start with Dunny and Frost will be 1 & 2 in the pecking order but Tuipulotu could turn out to be some player the way he is developing and we want to make sure we keep him.
I agree that as a club we have recruited wisely - getting that quality in certain positions to rotate and rest players to keep them fresh in what is a crazy professional game - the centres are amazing no drop off really each with their own strengths - Cam (jackling, linking and ability to beat the first defender), Max (Defence, speed and vision), Ollie (barnstorming power & defence), Chris Harris (Defence, playmaking and experience) and Will Butt (Power & reading of the game) I would be happy with any one of the combinations to be honest.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:Ali1969
Not convinced with the Team selected by Telegraph as I believe you could make several alterations and the team would be equally as strong.
Choosing a 'best team' is a nonsense. Firstly, the days of a first 15 playing the majority of matches are long gone, secondly it's now a case of horses for courses, and thirdly, and most importantly, the emphasis is about strength in depth - if we are quibbling about who should be in and out of this mythical best team, then that shows we have a level of depth that allows players to be swapped in and out without any discernible dropping off of strength.
Ironically, there was a time not long ago when we had the dream back row of Louw, Underhill and Faletau. As I recall, the three ran out just once together - against Gloucester.
And we lost 15 - 29.
From week to week it will definitely vary as you point out. It’s only a bit of fun though after all.
Quote:shipwrecked
The Telegraph have published a list of the strongest sides for all teams in the Premiership assuming all are fit and not on R&R
Comments are:
The rationale is that Arundell adds searing pace, with Carreras capable of covering fly-half. Hill covers lock, so I have loaded the bench with three back-rowers including the rampaging Coetzee (wearing 23 because Bath do it that way). Pepper, a magnificent player, could start ahead of, or in tandem with, Underhill. Van Graan will go for a seven-one split if he so desires.
Strengths: Yes, lots of them. The reigning champions have consolidated cleverly again. Frost, for instance, is a smart signing.
Weaknesses: Talk about good headaches. Keeping everyone happy over the course of the season could become a challenge, so expect more rotation.
Can’t agree with Arundell instead of big Joe, he didn’t do anything of note in France and is yet to prove himself at Bath.
Just a note that although there are three Tuipulotu brothers, yours isn't one of them! Sione and now Ottavio play for Glasgow, while Mosese plays for Edinburgh.
Quote:East_Stand_Warrior
Just a note that although there are three Tuipulotu brothers, yours isn't one of them! Sione and now Ottavio play for Glasgow, while Mosese plays for Edinburgh.
We looked at this in a previous article and its super confusing. I didn't mean to imply Kepu was Ottavio's (Tavi's) brother.
Kepu Tuipulotu is the son of Sione Tuipulotu Sr. (Sione Mone Tuipulotu), a Tongan international and former Wales player, he has a sister Sisilia and a brother Carwyn.
The Scottish international player, is also named Sione, and has brothers Ottavio and Mosese. His father is Fohe Tuipulotu. They have a son born summer 2024 called, you guessed it Fohe Tuipulotu!
They are all part of the larger Tuipulotu family bearing in mind Tonga only has a population of 100,000.
Quote:East_Stand_Warrior
All the chat coming out of the Glasgow camp is that it will be a fairly weak group that heads down to Bath. As well as our 5 Lions (plus Zander Fagerson who pulled out injured, and still is), we had a lot away with Scotland over the summer too. Expect a lot of unfamiliar faces.
Thanks for that info, the point of a preview is generate interest in the game and inform on player form, new signings etc. Any chance you could share some gossip about up and coming youngsters to lookout for?
Samoa has double the population of Tonga, watch out for Posolo at Saracens, most of the Tuilagi family are connected with Tigers in some way.
I’m going to need some help here!
1 Jake Shearer
2 Grant Stewart
3 Fin Richardson
4 Ryan Burke
5 Jare Oguntibeju
6 Macenzzie Duncan
7 Joe Roberts
8 Euan Ferrie (C)
9 Jack Oliver
10 Matthew Urwin
11 Ben Salmon
12 Kerr Yule
13 Kerr Johnston
14 Cameron van Wyk
15 Fergus Watson
Replacements
Seb Stephen, Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Dan Halkon, Dylan Cockburn, Angus Fraser, Ben Afshar, Brent Jackson, Dan Lancaster, Johnny Ventisei, Josh McKay, Ollie Smith.
Simply love this selection.
Van de Linde at 9, Cuckson and Jeans at lock.
James Linegar, Claudius Wheeler, Max Pearce and Jasper Spandler as hookers, packed with academy players almost perfect exposure against an equally experimental Glasgow side.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:05:12:59:00 by shipwrecked.
Rumour is that the squads will build in strength to the PRC game V Exeter on 20 Sep.
PG
Quote:shipwrecked
Glasgow Warriors team to play Bath at the Rec.
I’m going to need some help here!
1 Jake Shearer
2 Grant Stewart
3 Fin Richardson
4 Ryan Burke
5 Jare Oguntibeju
6 Macenzzie Duncan
7 Joe Roberts
8 Euan Ferrie (C)
9 Jack Oliver
10 Matthew Urwin
11 Ben Salmon
12 Kerr Yule
13 Kerr Johnston
14 Cameron van Wyk
15 Fergus Watson
Replacements
Seb Stephen, Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Rory Sutherland, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Dan Halkon, Dylan Cockburn, Angus Fraser, Ben Afshar, Brent Jackson, Dan Lancaster, Johnny Ventisei, Josh McKay, Ollie Smith.
To be fair, most Glasgow fans will need help with most of that lineup! 24 year-old Euan Ferrie is by a long way the most experienced in the starting XV (actually, that's probably not right, Grant Stewart at hooker is 30 and has a couple of Scotland caps - but he also dropped out of the pro game for a few years and is very much on the fringes these days).
Of the rest... Fin Richardson is a young prop who for all our sakes has to come good; Jare Oguntibeju had a breakthrough last season - a very raw lock (only started playing rugby fairly late on), but promising; Maccenzie Duncan had a decent cameo or two at the end of last season... and that's about as much as I can tell you! Urwin, Yule, Van Wyk and Watson are all mentioned by those who keep track of the youngsters as prospects, but I don't think they've made the first team yet.
A bit more experience and grunt on the bench (Sutherland and Talakai would be a gnarly old prop pairing to come on... though the future at loosehead is actually Nathan McBeth who looks superb). Max Williamson could be a very good lock. Josh McKay is a non-kicking fullback, but his play ball in hand is superb. Ollie Smith is one who needs a big season, after a long injury, but has shown class.
But the most exciting prospect for me on the bench is Ben Afshar at scrum-half.
Overall though, I'd expect us to be a fair bit off you guys.
Josh McKay looks good and Ben Afshar is up a against a very fresh 9 in Van der Linde who Bath fans have seen little of but comes with a high recommendation.
We love an attacking full back down here. Seems a close match up but with home advantage and a bit more form your kids might be in for a hard time.
Glasgow have a reputation for being hard to beat so I'm sure there will be plenty of spirit on show, good luck and thanks for the run down.
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
Very much looking forward to it.......and then afterwards at the Electric Bear Brewery 10 year party which is open to everyone.....sorry Mods shameless promotion!
Are you showing the England game??
Bernard van der Linde has a kick charged down then Bath get marched back 10 to Bath's 5m line Glasgow fail to win the ball cleanly.
28-7 Henry Arundell gets his second as he adds weight to the maul then ends up with the ball, TRY!
35-7 Henry Arundell breaks down the wing then passes inside to Will Butt who steps of his left to finish from 30m
25 minutes to go.
35-14
Thats the Full Time score.
We have see TCS on the wing before at the end of matches, certainly good for him to have another string to his bow if bench space is limited.
It's just a preseason adjustment.
Thought kirk went well and liked the look of bennett off the bench- big, old school , abrasive 6.
I think staddon got man of match?
Van de linde looked a very capable kicker off both feet, mixing it up a lot.
Donoghue and linegar both looked competent at 10 and may well both be needed early season.
Clear that harris has been a top player. Loads of communication and physicality.
Arundell will be an exciting addition, could sense the crowd anticipation every time he got the ball.
Winters and griffin showed a bit of promise 1st half.
Frustrating for TCS but agree him getting game time at wing will help his cause for making match day squads.
Bringing senior guys on second half really asserted pir dominance- they struggled to contain the power of fvw, dunn, roux, reid.
Good fun- v v warm in the east stand!!
On signing his Senior Academy contract at Bath, Linegar said: “Now it’s about taking that next step into the senior environment and this year I really want to push on with that. I have always dreamed of playing for Bath. I will strive now to make my Premiership debut for Bath whenever that may be. This club is, at the moment, one of the best clubs in the world and I believe it’s going to continue like that for many years to come. Being here and being a part of that I hope for many more years to come is special.”
He certainly is getting the PR right!!
What a multitude of riches at flyhalf....no need to contemplate in the future Mojo "standing in"
Kirk and Van de Linde particularly impressive. Liked the way vdl slotted in, his reading of the game was first class as was his communication. Harris and Butt combined really well to give us yet another option in the centre. Took me 15 minutes to work out who the replacement 8 was, his baby curls gone making him a menacing sight, love it.
Good entertainment, nice to score another 40+ points on the board, young lads all showing improvement, Big Joe's handling a worry but a lovely afternoon in the sunshine. Beer prices very unfair.
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
James Linegar....I had to google him because I forgot him signing his senior academy contract..
What a multitude of riches at flyhalf....no need to contemplate in the future Mojo "standing in"
James Linegar is an England U18 fly-half, just to emphasise the candidates for the same position in the same age group there are no less than 5 fly halves listed on the Offy. I know nothing about these lads but they will be putting their hands up for the academy for sure.
U18 Squad Fly halves
OLIVER BECKLY
CADE COMER
FREDDIE CORBETT
MAX HOOPER
PIRAN MORAN
Quote:Francis Allen
Took me 15 minutes to work out who the replacement 8 was, his baby curls gone making him a menacing sight, love it.
Trying to work this out - assume it was Reid? Just found a pic of what looks like him - he's gone skinhead!
Quote:JK7Quote:Francis Allen
Took me 15 minutes to work out who the replacement 8 was, his baby curls gone making him a menacing sight, love it.
Trying to work this out - assume it was Reid? Just found a pic of what looks like him - he's gone skinhead!
It was Mikes' birthday - maybe the ragging went beyond the bumps!
Quote:SusanneQuote:JK7Quote:Francis Allen
Took me 15 minutes to work out who the replacement 8 was, his baby curls gone making him a menacing sight, love it.
Trying to work this out - assume it was Reid? Just found a pic of what looks like him - he's gone skinhead!
It was Mikes' birthday - maybe the ragging went beyond the bumps!
Hope he invited Miles!
It was Mikes' birthday - maybe the ragging went beyond the bumps![/quote]
Hope he invited Miles!
[/quote]Mike who?
6 Ewan Richards © - 7
If the ‘second team captain’ doesn’t become a first team regular by the end of the season it will be a failure of management by Bath because he never fails to disappoint, always making metres as a willing runner.
Quote:Congrats on the big ten BSJ! I had a bottle of your Breakfast Epiphanies a few weeks ago, but it was well out of date and I hadn’t kept it at an optimum temperature. It was still good though.Bath Supporter Jack
Just for those of you concerned to know the 10th Anniversary Party at the Electric Bear was a great success with a very, very big crowd. Quite a few of the faithful there in their Blue, Black and White shirts!!
Can anyone cast a view on it?
Quote:Watching live with no replay I thought the gap was created by Joe (playing 13) rushing up and separating from the 12 that had just come on.gaz59
There's a video and twitter criticism of Arundell's defence for one of the Glasgow tries
Can anyone cast a view on it?
Just seen the highlights [youtu.be]
They don’t show how the break happened, but the is a missed attempted tackle by Arundell as the attacking player changed direction after being pushed by his team mate. But several other players missed better tackling opportunities first.
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