
We allowed Bath too many entries into our 22, admits Sean Everitt
A proper occasion and a proper contest — one that Bath always looked like winning but to which Edinburgh gave plenty as they fought tooth and nail to defy both the odds and the runaway Premiership leaders.
In the final analysis, the capital outfit were simply overpowered, not least by the superlative Bath bench, from which Thomas Du Toit, Alfie Barbeary, Ted Hill and Niall Annett all emerged to devastating effect in the course of a second half when West Country bulk and brawn proved decisive.
Edinburgh defended with heart, hunger and real aptitude for large swathes of the game but while they succeeded in reducing the Bath attacking machine to little more than a few transitory splutters, the visitors had too much muscle when

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BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Premiership rebrands to become the 'Prem' from next season
The Premiership - the top flight of English rugby union - will become the 'Gallagher Prem' next season as it rebrands to emphasise the physicality and intensity of the makeover will include a new orange logo which will be shown to fans, both at Allianz Stadium and watching on television, before Saturday's final between Bath and Leicester is hoped that shortening the league's name will help it "talk how fans talk" and give it a less corporate, more informal also believe showcasing the confrontational nature of the sport, alongside players' athleticism and skill, will draw in new, younger fans. The Premiership says it recorded 30% growth in fans between the ages of 18-34 between 2023 and 2024."The research showed physicality was a key part of the appeal of rugby," the Premiership's chief growth officer Rob Calder told BBC Sport."That came through very strongly, not just with existing audiences, but wider audiences as well."It can't just simply be that. There's got to be some light and dark to it."That's where the incredible skill, the incredible pace, the decision-making under pressure is so important. Precision in training and then bravery in execution."We want to talk about all those things." The Prem will focus on delivering more action and behind-the-scenes content to YouTube and social media, with big hits, young stars and emotional moments showcased alongside tries and match marketing push is part of a drive for growth, investment and subsequent financial security after the chastening demise of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, who all went bust in the 2022-23 Premiership believes that a franchise system - with on-pitch relegation scrapped, but teams obliged to hit centrally-set standards on and off the pitch - would attract a flush of new to such an expansion model has the backing of Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney, but will need the approval of the RFU Council to become second-tier Championship announced in May that it would similarly change its name for the start of next season, opting for 'Champ Rugby'.The Six Nations has also recently rebranded. The tournament unveiled a new orange logo in December, with the majority of fans unimpressed.


BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Scotland players fear losing contracts after World Cup
More than half of Scotland women's squad fear being left without a professional contract and having to hunt for work after this summer's Rugby World Cup, a squad representative has claimed.A two-page statement sent to BBC Sport says only 15 members of the 38-player training squad are on year-long deals with Scottish could mean a number of the 23 who have been put on short-term arrangements will be looking for new employment and experiencing off-field upheaval by source claims that some players in the Rugby World Cup training camp are continuing to "suffer with their mental and emotional health following the potential loss of their contracts" as they prepare for the tournament, which is being hosted by added it was "not conducive" to "a positive performance environment within a squad".Scottish Rugby says it extended contracts to October to give players certainty for the event, which runs from 22 August to 27 added it had not yet confirmed which players would be offered contracts beyond October but intended to sort that in the coming weeks. The national body added: "Scottish Rugby has committed to providing confirmation of what the high-performance programme will look like by the end of June, at which time the players will be advised of the next steps in the contracting process, with individual meetings scheduled, and contracts concluded, in July ahead of the Rugby World Cup."In 2022, Scottish Rugby announced, external that 28 players would be offered professional remains unclear how many players beyond the 15 already on 12-month contracts will be offered new deals by the end of the of the Scotland training squad also have contracts with their club sides, the majority of which are PWR sides in that league does pay its players, it is not a professional league and most players combine playing with jobs or some Scotland players are not offered contracts beyond October, the source claims they will be left "job hunting or doing interviews during pre-season and during the World Cup".A group of players are understood to have approached the Women's Rugby Association (WRA) for advice. The WRA supported the Wales Women in 2024 following a long-running contract dispute with the Welsh Rugby approached by the BBC, the WRA was unable to confirm its position on representing the Scotland Scotland women do have some representation from the Rugby Players Scotland union, but a spokesperson confirmed that it only involves matters in the "collective interest" - for instance, agreeing a maternity policy for players. This does not currently include any individual contract Players Scotland told BBC Sport: "Rugby Players Scotland are working with our members to develop the collective interests of professional women's rugby in Scotland in collaboration with Scottish Rugby."Scotland's women are in pre-season training ahead of the Rugby World Cup in England. They play Wales in Manchester, in their opening Pool B game, on Saturday, 23 August.


The Courier
5 hours ago
- The Courier
Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen spells out why he is excited to be back at Dunfermline Athletic
Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen hopes both he and Dunfermline can thrive – rather than simply survive – this season under Neil Lennon. The defender has penned a new 12-month contract with the Pars, who activated an option in the agreement signed by the former Leeds United last season. The 20-year-old arrived on a short-term deal at the start of February and made a huge impact at the heart of the Fifers rearguard. He was an ever-present at the back as the East End Park men successfully avoided relegation to League One. However, the Scotland U/21 cap is convinced there will be better things ahead for Dunfermline after Lennon's decision to stay on as manager. 'It's good to be back. I'm excited for the season,' he said after putting pen to paper at the club on Friday. 'Obviously, I enjoyed my time here last season. So, I'm looking to kick on again this season and hopefully improve individually and as a team. 'Last season, we managed to survive. But I think we'll be looking at the other end of the table going into this season. 'It's a tough league. Anyone can beat anyone, we know that. 'So I think just take the positives from last season and keep doing those things. And the things that we weren't so good at, build on that.' Dunfermline finished the campaign in seventh place after bottom side Hamilton Accies were deducted 15 points due to SPFL rule breaches. But, with just nine wins from 36 league games, there will have to be major improvements if the Pars are to achieve their stated aim of pushing for promotion to the Premiership. Chilokoa-Mullen saw enough in his seven matches in charge to know that Lennon's experience of winning silverware and competing in Europe with previous clubs Celtic and Hibernian could prove invaluable. 'One of the main things was playing regularly,' he added as he surveyed his time with the Fifers last season. 'It's my first real experience of men's football. 'That's something I needed and I enjoyed that. 'And working under an experienced manager, Neil Lennon, and playing with experienced players, they're obviously helping me. '[Lennon] has got lots of experience. He's worked with loads of top players. It's always good. He can pass things down to all of us, really. 'I think he wants us to dominate games this season. 'Obviously, last season, he didn't have that much time with us. So, I don't think he could really establish the full way he wanted to play in the short period of time. 'But this season, he wants us to dominate games, have the ball – and score more goals.'