Comeonmylovers.co.uk

rugbyunion

Latest Headlines
AND SO IT BEGINS…PERPIGNAN v BATH

JRR Tolkien didn’t actually pen those words in Lord of the Rings, rather Peter Jackson’s scriptwriters gave them to Théoden to utter at the start of the Battle of Helm’s Deep. Since then, the phrase has found its way into popular usage signifying the start of some challenging task. Bath Rugby won’t be facing hordes of Orcs, although on second thoughts we could all probably name a few of our rivals who fall into that category, but change is always challenging. Depending on how you deal with it you may either expose weaknesses and succumb to threats or preferably you might exploit it to reinforce strengths and grasp opportunities. So how are we placed to meet the challenges that the new season will bring?
REBUILD AND REVIVE: 2027 PREVIEW

Bath Rugby’s pre-season starts this week in Perpignan (more on that tomorrow), heralding the start of a crucial campaign for the club. The first bricks of the proposed new Rec stadium should be laid this coming summer, hopefully on an accelerated timetable and fans will hope for a return to honours after semi-final frustration in all 3 tournaments last season. So will we see continuing evolution of a dynasty to match the stadium ambitions? Let’s examine the chances.
Bath Academy & University of Bath Talent Watch (2026) -Backs

Bath's seamless senior squad to-academy-to-university pathway is arguably the strongest in England right now, producing a group of players who are already appearing in England U20 environments, BUCS Super Rugby title-winning teams, and senior Bath squads. Based on live viewing of university games and u20s rugby here is a personal view of the three quarters players who impressed last season plus also a flyer. Not all will breakthrough.
Bath Rugby Academy & University of Bath Talent Watch (2026)

I believe that the way Bath’s senior players, the Bath Academy and Bath University are currently integrated is a bit unique. Bath's pathway is arguably the strongest in England right now.There is of course an equivalent article covering the outstanding backs that emerged in the 2025/6 season: first this article will look at the forwards.The success of the season that led to the double is unusual in that the stand out players that attracted the headlines could not have plied their trade without contributions from a whole range of other players, the squad involved nearly 50 different players.This means that crediting emerging talent is difficult. However, there are some that deserve a mention even if they were not regulars.
LEARNINGS FOR NEXT SEASON. SEASON REVIEW CONTINUED.

Last week I reviewed Bath’s 2026 performance. Most responses to the question “was it failure, frustration or flatline?” seemed to opt for failure, though some optimists tended to suggest a plateau or ‘flatline’ effect. Many anticipated and have already expressed the points I had drafted for this second part of the review “So, where do we go from here?” As supporter debate continues, Van Graan has plenty to ponder while on his holidays, that’s for sure.
World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 Preview

South Africa won the final last year in this annual competition (for obvious reasons) defeating New Zealand 23–15 MoM was Vusi Moyo (seen above tackling his Baby Blacks opposite number). This year the World Rugby Junior World Championship is in Georgia and promises to outline the future of rugby in future years. The tournament kicks off Saturday, 27th June and the home nations will have a big say in who lifts the trophy at the final on 18th July.The competition has expanded to 16-teams. As normal in all these world competitions there is a “group of death” which unfortunately features England and Ireland. That is the brutal Pool C containing England and Ireland with Argentina and USA completing the group.
FAILURE, FRUSTRATION OR FLATLINE? 2026 SEASON REVIEW

Now that the dust is settling, it is time to reflect on the outcome of the Prem season. Another club now has it’s hands on the trophy so for Bath has it been failure, frustration or flatlining? In a way it is all three and certainly no guarantee of future fulfilment. Should we though regard the van Graan’s fourth season with fury at falling short and fear for the future? Or instead, fearlessly foray forward in search of further fame? Let’s see.
"IT'S IN OUR HANDS”...BATH V EXETER.

“It's in our hands. We are at home with our people" So said Johann van Graan before Saturday's game against Leicester and it holds just as true for next weekend's semi-final against a very much in-form Exeter side. With the portrait of the late great Roger Spurrell looking down on the Rec at the start of the Tigers game I was tempted to go with "standing on the shoulders of giants" as my opening line. It's taken a very long time for Bath to step out of the shadow of the glory days epitomised by Roger Spurrell. Under JvG the current Bath squad is writing its own place in the history of our great club and I'm sure Roger would say that's exactly how it should be.
NOW OR NEVER: BATH V LEICESTER

It should be quite the occasion, the first of a (probable) double header against one of our oldest rivals.We have been fortunate enough to have seen some very special matches at The Rec in the last 12 months or so and this could be another.It will be billed as a Winner Takes It All scenario which is not quite true. Both teams will definitely play in the semi-finals, the only questions are where and against whom. The importance of this weekend lies in the fact that away semi-final wins are rare beasts. Since 2015, only Quins - in the ridiculous 2021 Bristanbul game - have managed it. And no team finishing third in the league have ever won the final.
BOUNCEBACKABILITY: EXETER CHIEFS V BATH RUGBY

It was the then Crystal Palace football manager Iain Dowie who coined the word ‘bouncebackability’ some twenty-two years ago. The Collins Dictionary defines it as “the ability to recover after a setback, especially in sport.”It is a quality that both teams will be searching for on Sunday. Both are coming back off successive defeats, one each in the Prem and in Europe. Both are rueing the impact of decisions around head contact and counting the cost of mounting injuries. Both know a third defeat could derail what has been a very promising season.