By Harry Mottram: finally after a long and soggy summer rugby returns to the Recreation Ground in Bath with the Irish outfit Rugbaí Mumhan or Munster Rugby take on the Blue Black and Whites in an opening friendly match this coming Saturday, August 31, 2024. The red shirts of the southern Ireland club come of the back of a successful season having won the United Irish Championship edging out Leinster, Scarlets and South Africa’s Bulls to secure the title. They will be no push over and will test Bath on their home turf as they are led by skipper Peter O’Mahony with back up from the likes of Irish Internationals Tadhg Beirne and Oli Jager.
Founded in 1879, the club famously beat The All Blacks in 1973 and remain one of the island’s most formidable clubs. Bath took the honours against Munster in 2018 while back in 2000 in Ireland it was Munster 31-9 Bath Rugby. The match kicks off at 3pm.
Ahead of Bath Rugby’s first fixture this weekend, Johann van Graan has confirmed his squad for the 2024/25 season.
SENIOR MEN’S
Props: Arthur Cordwell, Thomas du Toit, Archie Griffin, Beno Obano, Will Stuart, Francois van Wyk, Kieran Verden
Hooker: Niall Annett, Tom Dunn, Hame Faiva, John Stewart
Lock: Harvey Cuckson, Jacques du Plessis, Charlie Ewels, Ross Molony, Quinn Roux
Back Row: Alfie Barbeary, Josh Bayliss, Jaco Coetzee, Thompson Cowan, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Miles Reid, Ewan Richards, Ethan Staddon, Sam Underhill
Scrum-half: Tom Carr-Smith, Neil Le Roux, Louis Schreuder, Ben Spencer
Fly-half: Orlando Bailey, Sam Harris, Finn Russell
Centre: Will Butt, Louie Hennessey, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh, Cameron Redpath
Wing: Joe Cokanasiga, Regan Grace, Ruaridh McConnochie, Will Muir
Full back: Tom de Glanville, Ciaran Donoghue, Austin Emens