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Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
English rugby must follow feisty Ellis Genge's lead to see off rebel league
To think that there are those who wish to rip up the club rugby blueprint and toss it into a smouldering inferno. All that can be said with certainty – in the middle of one of the edgiest and engrossing Premiership semi-finals in memory – is that none of rugby's self-proclaimed disruptors could have been present at the Rec on Friday night. Because Bath's second-half demolition of their arch-rivals Bristol was everything that confected, artificial sport – the kind which is bought by money and not emotion – is not: it was frenetic, parochial and, at times, down right anarchic. It was everything that sport should be. West Country rivals, knockout sport, with home-grown heroes and villains, in front of a packed house, with fans putting that very word into 'fanatical'. At times, some of the crowd's celebrating, even for something as mundane, bordered on maniacal. This was heritage, tradition – atavism, even – and pride writ large in as memorable and poignant an advert for Premiership rugby as there has been this season. But, most importantly, it was real – and people cared. It meant something – to two of England's most regal rugby cities. And, if sport gets to a stage where people do not care, then what is the point? One would think that the organisers of R360, rugby's latest breakaway attempt, might understand that, given that one of the protagonists, Mike Tindall, wore the Blue, Black and White on over 100 occasions. R360 just cannot claim to be able to replicate what took place in Bath on Friday night and, even if they were to make such an outlandish claim, why would anyone want to leave it? Is the draw so alluring that these Bath men would sacrifice nights like Friday in favour of contrived teams playing in contrived causes? No amount of money could replace the Rec roar which engulfed Joe Cokanasiga after scoring the decisive second-half try; or the chorus of 'Come on You Bath', all in unison, which followed. Bath Rugby was founded in 1865 – and on Friday night it felt as though the crowd had over 150 years of history behind them. It must be noted that Ellis Genge played his part, too. The great Bristolian was in fine form, admittedly in a losing cause, in both tight and loose, but it was the looseness of his lips that was most striking. The game had not even begun when the loosehead entered into some verbals with the Bath crowd; then came some on-field verbals for which he was penalised but thereafter he was immense in both pantomime villain and all-court forward. 🎙️ "This is what we need isn't it?" Ellis Genge has a word with the home fans at The Rec as the two teams make their way onto the field for a hotly contested derby. 💥🍿💥🍿 Watch live on TNT Sports & Discovery+ — Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) June 6, 2025 With characters like Genge – as long as there are more coming through, like Henry Pollock, who are willing to embrace the niggle and rage against the machine, then the Premiership is in good hands. Even Finn Russell got in on the act at the end, and it looked as though he and Bristol centre James Williams might come to blows as the Lions fly-half left the field with four minutes to play. The league undoubtedly has its issues. There are too many stale matches, too many dead-rubbers, with not enough spice. Some clubs struggle to regularly fill their stadiums and others are in dire need of investment. But, on Friday night, the woes of 2022/23, the season in which three sides went to the wall, felt as though it had been consigned to history. The match provided the most judicious reminder, too, that tries in this sport do not always equal entertainment. Bath opened the Bristol floodgates in the second half but by then the fixture was already a game-of-the-season contender, and only once had the whitewash been breached. The first-half score, by James Dun, was a sweet one; but a sole one it was. The doom-mongers will gleefully highlight that Friday night was just one game among so many in a season, and one swallow does not a summer make, but here was a glimpse of the Premiership's potential: at times brutal, at times beautiful, always meaningful. It might not be there yet, but if this is to be its ceiling, then it is a high one. With all the talk of breakaways and disruption, the future is bright. Perhaps a rethink – an R180, if you will – is needed.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live Bath v Bristol: Score and latest updates from Premiership semi-final
Bristol meanwhile finished in the final play-off spot in fourth. They beat Harlequins 52-26 at home on the final day of the regular season last weekend to book their place in the semi-finals. They are yet to reach a Premiership final and have been beaten in all three of their semi-final appearances. Their director of rugby Pat Lam has pointed to their recent record against Bath giving them confidence despite being away from home tonight. 'I do not have to do anything [to motivate the team], the local boys take over and let them sort it out,' Lam said. 'It is a record we are proud of. We have played them 14 times since we have been back in the Premiership and won 11. '[Of] the two we have lost; one was in the 82nd minute and the other was by a point. We know how to do that. Saying that, Bath have a phenomenal squad. They have spent more than we have on our squad. Johann [van Graan] has done a brilliant job and that is going to be really tough for us, but we are going to embrace it. 'Everyone will be talking about Bath [due to their treble bid] and rightly so. For us, we will just get our heads down and make sure we prepare right. No doubt we are underdogs in everyone's eyes, but we will go there and see what happens.' Despite finishing 14 points behind Bath, Bristol did do the league double over the hosts during the regular season. In the other semi-final, Leicester host Sale at Welford Road tomorrow afternoon. A place in the final is at stake so who will be booking a trip to Allianz Stadium next weekend? Bath or Bristol? Kick-off from The Rec is at 7.45pm.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'We'd definitely come back' - English rugby's big day out in Cardiff
The Principality Stadium was rocking on Saturday as more than 50,000 fans attended a full-throttle club rugby derby in the heart of Cardiff. But something was different; both sides came from over the border. It was the first time an English Premiership game had been held at Wales' national stadium, and the fans turned up in their numbers. With an attendance of 51,095, the occasion drew at least 20,000 more spectators than Welsh rugby's domestic showpiece event, Judgement Day, held a few weeks earlier. The streets and pubs surrounding the Principality Stadium were packed with Bristol and Bath fans, soaking up the sun and matchday atmosphere. "It was a wonderful occasion, really pleased with our operational staff and obviously our board for having the foresight to bring it here," said Bristol head coach Pat Lam. He added: "I'm very thankful to both sets of fans for coming out in their numbers for a record crowd for us. When asked whether he would like to make this an annual event, Lam said: "Definitely." Bristol beat much-changed Bath to go third On the pitch, the rugby was intense and frenetic, as you would expect from two of the Premiership's highest scoring sides. Bristol eventually won an enthralling fixture 36-14, boosting their hopes of a top-four finish. "I've had the privilege to play in this stadium and so many players would love to and never get the chance," Lam continued. "To come with your club-mates, to put a Bristol jersey on and to come out and play in that sort of stadium, in that sort of atmosphere, is an experience they won't forget." Bath will return to Cardiff on 23 May, hoping for a better result when they face Lyon in the European Challenge Cup final. Head coach Johann van Graan said: "The occasion was magnificent, credit to Bristol for the off-field stuff they put on show. "I would come here with the Springboks before. When we drove in on the bus it felt like a Test match. I thought that was incredible, like a really big game of rugby." Having secured a bonus-point win and a club-record attendance of 51,095, it is safe to say the day will be deemed a success for Bristol. In contrast, last month's Judgement Day double-header between the four Welsh regions attracted a crowd of just 28,328. This was the lowest attendance of the nine Principality Stadium occasions, although it was 8,000 more than turned up when the event was switched to Cardiff City Stadium last year. In 2016, there was a crowd of 68,000 for Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium. Being held on the Easter weekend, the timing of the late scheduling in the season and general apathy towards Welsh rugby have been floated as reasons to explain the loss of 40,000 supporters in nine years. Ospreys head coach Mark Jones hopes it remains, if crowds of old can be coaxed back. "The concept is the right one, where you have a day where everyone comes together and celebrates Welsh rugby with the talent we have and way we can perform," said Jones. "We need to work out how we get 60,000 in there like we used to, that's the challenge. "The selfish side of me says open it up, make tickets £1, fill the place out and get them in love with rugby. "But I know electricity is not free and you have to pay people to staff it and make money, so I get it." Bristol will return for another fixture here on 28 March, 2026, a double-header with both the men's and women's sides taking to the field. What remains to be seen is whether Judgement Day will return and, if so, whether supporters will come back.
The Guardian
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bristol enjoy Cardiff takeover and boost playoff hopes with win over Bath
It took a trip across the border and an opponent with other things on their mind but Bristol stopped the recent rot with a bonus-point victory that keeps their playoff hopes alive. Their performance did not quite live up to all the pyrotechnics that adorned their Big Day Out at the Principality Stadium but six tries and a win over a second-string Bath side was enough to satisfy their supporters. Indeed, 51,095 fans – plenty from Bath too – showed up to watch a west country derby that was keenly fought if lacking in the highest quality. Bristol survived an early bout of stage fright and withstood a second-half comeback by their visitors to seal the win with late tries from Will Capon and Bill Mata. For Bath - who were already guaranteed top spot - it is a first defeat in 11 in all competitions but Johan van Graan will be pleased with how his callow charges acquitted themselves. The Premiership has plenty of its own problems but this trip to Cardiff brought into sharp relief those of their neighbours. Shortly before kick-off at the home of Welsh rugby, the Ospreys and the Scarlets released a statement defending why they have not yet joined Cardiff and the Dragons in signing up to the new professional agreement. Bristol have put their back into marketing this fixture - they have already booked to come back next year - but it is saying something that the Bears were able to attract a crowd not far off double that of Wales's Judgement Day a few weeks ago. As if to hammer home the disparity, on Saturday the Premiership officially announced its long-term £200m renewed deal with TNT Sports. You suspect the broadcasters would have preferred Bath to have picked their first team, to have unleashed their two British & Irish Lions in Finn Russell and Will Stuart, but that is the league leaders' prerogative and another reminder that the Premiership is far from perfect. It is unlikely Pat Lam cares too much about that. Bristol's corporate arm may hope that whoever they play next year will bring their A-listers but the Bears had lost their last three Premiership matches before this and desperately needed to arrest that slide to maintain hopes of reaching the playoffs. Bath, meanwhile, have a European Challenge Cup final back at this stadium to prepare for on 23 May before the Premiership playoffs and understandably made 13 changes from the side who defeated Edinburgh in the semi-final last weekend. They began well enough, weathering an early Bristol storm to score the first try through the 22-year-old fly-half Ciaran Donoghue. There was an element of fortune to the score - Donoghue's kick was charged down but fell to Joe Cokanasiga who ran hard and straight before offloading to Bath's No 10. Donoghue has caught the eye in recent weeks, emerging as a potential contender for England's summer tour of Argentina and the USA, and he finished his try here with an impressive turn of pace. Bristol had already been reduced to 14 men with Max Lahiff sent to the sin-bin amid mounting Bath pressure and from kick-off it was soon 13 - Benhard Janse van Rensburg shown a yellow card for taking out the visiting captain Ewan Richards in the air. The Bears were finally on the board on 27 minutes, however, when Gabriel Ibitoye wriggled over from close range and soon after Janse van Rensburg's return, he straightened and flung the ball to Rich Lane for try number two. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion The Bears had settled by this stage, Bath's young charges were reeling and Bristol added another on the stroke of half-time - Gabriel Oghre finishing off at the back of a driving maul. Fitz Harding brought up the bonus point five minutes into the second half but Bath stirred themselves. The excellent Richards got on the scoresheet with a lovely dummy and a nervousness befell Bristol when both Joe Batley and Mata were sent to the sin-bin in quick succession. As it was, Bath's greenhorns could not quite take advantage and late breakaway scores from Capon and Mata put on the gloss on Bristol's victory.
