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Bath Rugby are continuing their policy of giving youth its chance when the 2026-27 PREM Rugby Cup kicks-off this weekend.
The Blue, Black & White will take on Sale Sharks at the CorpAcq Stadium in Round 1 on Sunday 6th September (3pm) as both clubs open their competitive campaigns.
And whereas the Sharks have named a powerful side bristling with new signings, Bath have opted for a matchday 23 comprising up-and-coming youngsters, some of whom have Gallagher PREM experience.
The Somerset outfit will be led by academy coach Mark Lilley for the game in Eccles, Greater Manchester.
Lilley will be head coach for Bath’s first block of matches in the competition. He will be assisted by Ryan Davis and Luke Charteris.
However, Johann van Graan – the club’s head of rugby – remains in charge of team selection.
Van Graan has picked Ewan Richards as the club’s PREM Cup captain for the third consecutive year.
Scott Kirk, Kepueli Tuipulotu and Kieran Verden will start in the front row.
Richards will partner Will Jeanes to complete the tight five.
Jack Bennett and George Timmins will start on the flanks, and Italy’s young international Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi will make his PREM Cup debut at number 8.
Ieuan Davies will start at scrum-half and will be joined in the half-backs by Ciaran Donoghue at 10.
In the centres will be Declan Treacey – making his Bath debut after signing for the senior academy this year – and Charlie Griffin.
Sam Winters and Tyler Offiah will operate on the wings, and Jack Woods will complete the starting line-up at full-back.
Jasper Spandler, Ioan Emanuel and Alfie Griffin will make their front-row impact from the bench.
James Maloney and Alex Ridgway will be the other replacement forwards.
Tom Carr-Smith, James Linegar and Jack Harrison will provide cover for the backs.
Bath starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Jack Bennett, 7 George Timmins, 8 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 9 Ieuan Davies, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Sam Winters, 12 Declan Treacey, 13 Charlie Griffin, 14 Tyler Offiah, 15 Jack Woods.
Bath replacements: 16 Jasper Spandler, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Alfie Griffin, 19 James Maloney, 20 Alex Ridgway, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 James Linegar, 23 Jack Harrison.
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson’s starting XV includes new recruits Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski.
And summer acquisitions Christ Tshiunza – a replacement for Exeter Chiefs in the 2025-26 PREM final – and Xavier Roe will be on the Sharks’ bench.
Sanderson has also named England players Bevan Rodd, Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter and Scotland internationals Gus Warr and Arron Reed to start as the North Westerners go in search of victory over the Blue, Black & White.
Sale starting XV: 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 Tye Raymont, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Ben Bamber, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Jacques Vermeulen, 9 Gus Warr, 10 Alex Lozowski, 11 Arron Reed, 12 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 13 Joe Marchant, 14 Tom Roebuck, 15 Joe Carpenter.
Sale replacements: 16 Alfie Longstaff, 17 Ralph McEachran, 18 Patreece Bell, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Tristan Woodman, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Ollie Davies, 23 Marius Louw.
Tickets for the game are available here.
The tie will be shown live, for free, on PREM Rugby’s YouTube channel, https://m.youtube.com/@PREM-Rugby
Almost 5,000 people – including many children – went along to The Rec on Summer Bank Holiday Monday, 31st August, for Bath’s season launch.
The family event, held at the Fan Village, offered a host of entertainment as well as the chance to meet Blue, Black & White players and members of the coaching staff.
Van Graan said: “The older generation of the Blue, Black & White have always been there. But the thing that strikes me is the amount of kids here and how they know the players.
“It’s also how this team have made the supporters feel over the last few years.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see what’s happening here.”