Bath Rugby have their final game this weekend at home against Premiership leaders Saracens, and what a way to go into one of the toughest clashes of the season than off the back of three victories; one at the home of English rugby against Harlequins and two against our West Country rivals Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs.

Fighting until the very end in front of 45,000 fans, Johann van Graan's team delivered a performance to be proud of against Quins, storming to a 45-35 victory over the Tabai Matson's men.

Giving the team a good foundation to build on for the ultimate clash of the 2022/23, van Graan will be hoping for more of the same grit and determination going into the Saracens fixture with a Champions Cup spot up for grabs.

"The important thing for us as a group this week is to continue on our journey and play the way we want to play, and get better. That's been the message all season so we're certainly not going to change something this week.

"We're coming up against the number one team in the Premiership by a significant way. They've dominated English rugby for the past decade and I have a lot of respect for Mark McCall and what he's achieved with his group of players.

"They've got some of the very best players in the northern hemisphere; starting British & Irish Lions and starting English internationals so that will be a tough challenge on its own.

"We ran them close earlier in the year at their stadium but its now the last of the season and we're at a sold-out Rec so hopefully we can perform.

"It'll be satisfying for us as a group to get the win. Taking it back to earlier in the season we'd won three league games and then came up against Quins where we crossed the try-line twice but couldn't see the grounding so for us its a huge opportunity to finish the season well.

"We'll stick to process and work on the things we've improved on the whole season. We'll be measuring ourselves against the best and ultimately they are the best team in the Premiership."

match details

When: Saturday 6 May, 16:00
Where: The Rec
Competition: R24 Gallagher Premiership
Coverage: Match Centre, BBC Radio Bristol, BT Sport
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Greg Macdonald
TMO: David Rose

saracens profile

Formed: 1876
Stadium: StoneX Stadium
Director of Rugby: Mark McCall
Head Coach: Joe Shaw
Captain: Owen Farrell
Finish last season: 2nd (runner-up in the final)

HONOURS

Premiership: 2010/11, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19
Championship: 1988/89, 1994/95, 2020/21
Champions Cup: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2018/19
Anglo-Welsh Cup: 1997/98, 2014/15
Middlesex Senior Cup: 1971/72, 1975/76, 1979/80, 1985/86
Premiership Rugby Sevens: 2010, 2018, 2019

ONE TO WATCH – BEN EARL

With a 91% tackle success rate and 27 turnovers this season, Ben Earl has certainly made a name for himself as a menace at the breakdown. Earl spent last season at our West Country rivals Bristol Bears, whilst Saracens were demoted into the Championship but never lost the Saracens' zest for winning.

Having been capped in U16, U18 and U20 rugby with England, Earl made his debut with the senior team in February 2020 and most recently featured in Steve Borthwick's 2023 Guinness Six Nations squad coming off the bench against Scotland and Italy.

try rewind

A classic throwback to a sensational try from Semesa Rokoduguni as he takes on the entire Saracens team on his own.

the reccy

For the final time this season, we present to you, The Reccy! And it's a good one. See what's lined up for you as you head to The Rec for the Saracens' visit. Let's just hope for some SaraSUN for our Summer Garden Party!

READ THE FULL RECCY

Huboo Match Preview: Saracens (H - R24)

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