Bath Rugby kicked off the 2026/27 Gallagher Premiership season with a commanding 33-17 away win against Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop. The Blue, Black and White secured a valuable bonus point, crossing the try line five times, including three tries from powerful driving mauls by Dan Frost, Dan du Preez, and Ewan Richards. However, it was Santi Carreras who captivated the crowd with a remarkable solo 70-metre try after an instinctive intervention to intercept a Quins attack. Joe Cokanasiga also made a significant impact, powering his way over for a try, while Finn Russell contributed eight points from four successful conversions out of five attempts.
Despite missing key players Marcus Smith and George Furbank to injury in their final pre-season game, Harlequins displayed resilience with notable performances from Will Porter, Chandler Cunningham-South, and Pedro Delgado. Nevertheless, the home side will regret several missed chances that could have altered the game’s momentum.
Rugby writer Sam Jess offers detailed assessments of the Bath Rugby players' performances:
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15 Santi Carreras – 8 The Argentine full-back had a shaky start, dropping the ball on an aerial challenge and missing a crucial tackle that let in a Quins counter-attack try. Yet, he produced a moment of world-class brilliance by intercepting a Quins clearance kick, collecting the ball on the volley, and racing 70 metres to score, ultimately creating a 14-point swing. He offered solid contributions throughout the second half but lacked further decisive moments in wide attacking plays.
14 Joe Cokanasiga – 7 The winger impressed early by reclaiming the ball from the kickoff and scoring a powerful try following a clever line break. He occasionally opted to flick the ball back during kick returns, one of which led to a costly Quins counter-try. Defensively, he showed vulnerability but recovered well to prevent a dangerous break. Unfortunately, some handling errors denied him a late scoring opportunity.
13 Ollie Lawrence – 6 Lawrence earned a crucial turnover at the breakdown but was somewhat loose in defence, with Quins exploiting space near his channel on several occasions. His attacking influence was limited, resulting in an early substitution with 20 minutes remaining.
12 Max Ojomoh – 7 Ojomoh delivered a standout tackle on a charging Quins player that forced a knock-on and helped establish the field position for Bath’s opening try. While his ball-handling skills were neat, he was unable to breach the Quins defensive line effectively.
11 Tom de Glanville – 7 Playing out of position on the wing, de Glanville had a mixed outing. He missed a relatively straightforward tackle that led to a Quins try but grew into the game as it progressed, though he still appeared less comfortable in this role.
10 Finn Russell – 6 Russell managed the game well, slotting four out of five conversions and making two excellent cover tackles. Though not his most expansive attacking display, he exhibited composure under pressure, including a clever pass after absorbing significant Quins pressure.
9 Tom Carr-Smith – 6 The scrum-half showed energy and linked effectively with Carreras. His precision passing led to Cokanasiga’s try, but inconsistent box kicks resulted in some easy possession for the opposition.
1 Beno Obano – 7 Obano showcased solid scrummaging technique, earning multiple penalties that helped assert Bath’s dominance upfront.
2 Dan Frost – 7 Despite some inconsistencies in the lineout, Frost’s accurate throws enabled Bath’s driving mauls, including the crucial try scored from a maul late in the first half.
3 Will Stuart – 7 Making his first competitive appearance since December 2025, Stuart was effective in scrums, winning a penalty early. Although he conceded a cynical penalty later, his defensive efforts included a standout try-saving tackle.
4 Ted Hill – 7 Hill had a dynamic presence, contributing to defence and counter-attacks before his absence saw Bath’s lineout falter.
5 Charlie Ewels – 7 Ewels led from the front with strong tackling, although the lineout struggled with consistency.
6 Josh Bayliss – 8 Bayliss had an energetic and impactful performance, maintaining a high work rate and making vital defensive interventions, including a try-saving tackle close to the line.
7 Sam Underhill – 7 Underhill was influential defensively, forcing a turnover near Bath’s line and persistent in tackle work before exiting early due to injury.
8 Dan du Preez – 7 In his Premiership debut for Bath, du Preez showed flashes of promise with an early try but was inconsistent, occasionally slow in defence. He improved after halftime and provided solid carries.
Replacements
- Kepueli Tuipulotu (16) – 4: Came on as hooker but struggled with lineout throws and dropped the ball close to scoring.
- Scott Kirk (17) – 6: Maintained stability in scrums with effective ball carries.
- Archie Griffin (18) – 6: Contributed in loose play and scrummaging.
- Ewan Richards (19) – 6: Scored a vital try off the bench.
- Guy Pepper (20) – 6: Provided a reliable performance.
- Bernard van der Linde (21) – N/A: Entered cautiously but lacked full control.
- Cameron Redpath (22) – 6: Strengthened Bath’s defence upon arrival.
- Miles Reid (23) – 7: Showed power and energy off the bench, helping suppress Quins’ advances.
Bath will look to build on this impressive start as they continue their Premiership campaign.