Bath Rugby full-back Tom de Glanville is set to join Premiership rivals Exeter Chiefs this summer, following their search for a reliable number 15 after England A international Josh Hodge confirmed his return to Newcastle Falcons for the 2026/27 season. De Glanville, 26, has been a consistent performer for Bath, amassing over 100 appearances since his debut against Exeter in September 2019. Despite competition from Argentina star Santi Carreras, de Glanville has remained a strong presence in the squad.
Carreras himself is hitting his stride after transferring from Gloucester, delivering a standout performance in Bath’s recent 30-26 victory over Bristol Bears. Head of Rugby Johann van Graan praised Carreras and hinted at a possible shift to inside centre during upcoming Premiership matches to cover for Finn Russell’s Six Nations duties.
Van Graan acknowledges the challenges of retaining all top players amid salary cap constraints, underscoring Bath’s focus on developing academy talent like Vilikesa Sela, who recently earned an England call-up ahead of the Six Nations.
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In addition to de Glanville’s expected exit, fellow Bath players Will Butt is rumored to be heading to Exeter as well. The club has also confirmed the departures of South African props Thomas du Toit and Francois van Wyk. Du Toit will return to South Africa to join The Sharks, while van Wyk is moving to Irish side Connacht. Van Graan expressed that these moves have been anticipated as part of squad restructuring.
Meanwhile, Bath confronts competition to retain number eight Alfie Barbeary, whose contract is up for renewal. Despite Bath’s desire to keep him, Sale Sharks are targeting Barbeary to bolster their back row, potentially replacing Dan du Preez, who is expected to join Bath. Barbeary, noted for recent strong performances including back-to-back Champions Cup player of the match awards, is also attracting interest from French clubs.
On a brighter note, England flanker Sam Underhill is projected to extend his stay at Bath. Since his arrival from the Ospreys in 2017, Underhill has become renowned for his defensive prowess. Though injuries have limited his England caps to 45, he remains an integral part of both Bath and the national squad.
As the 2026/27 season approaches, Bath Rugby balances squad evolution with the retention and recruitment of key talent, setting the stage for another competitive campaign.