Bath Rugby Change Four for Derby Clash

Bath Rugby welcome back Paul James, David Wilson, Francois Louw and Matt Banahan for their derby clash with Gloucester Rugby on Friday night at the Recreation Ground.

Test props Paul James and David Wilson, released by Wales and England respectively, come back into the front row either side of hooker Rob Webber, whilst Dominic Day and Dave Attwood continue their tough, impactful combination in the second row.

Francois Louw returns to the blindside flank and skippers the side, meaning Carl Fearns switches to the openside as Ben Skirving continues at number eight.

A mix of experience and youth is selected in the half-backs, with 98 times capped Peter Stringer linking up with Tom Heathcote once more.

Flyer Tom Biggs takes his place on the left wing, with the exceedingly robust Horacio Agulla on the right. The bulldozing Matt Banahan returns to the midfield to join Kyle Eastmond in the centres, with Nick Abendanon completing the line-up at fullback.

One of the hardest fought rivalries in rugby, the predicted sell-out crowd at the Rec are in for a thrilling game, as lock Dominic Day comments: “It’s a really big occasion. I live in town and people keep coming up to me and saying what a big game it is for Bath."

"There’s been that extra edge in training and the coaches have been demanding that bit more as well. They’ll be hurting from the defeat in the LV Cup and we know they’ll be coming down here looking for revenge and we have been preparing for that.”