Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs


By thechiefstribe.com
December 30 2025

TEAMS, MATCH INFORMATION, PRE-MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD AND SCORE PREDICTIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday 3 January 2026 at 3.05 p.m. at The Recreation Ground, Bath

Please post your score predictions in this thread

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Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Discussion started by thechiefstribe.com (IP Logged), 01/01/2026 14:40
thechiefstribe.com
thechiefstribe.com
01/01/2026 14:40
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MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
01/01/2026 18:06
Match Officials

Referee Luke Pearce

Assistant Referees Anthony Woodthorpe and Gareth Holsgrove

TMO Dean Richards

MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
01/01/2026 18:07
Weather Forecast

Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze from the north north west

Temperature 1 degrees will feel like -2 degrees

Precipitation is not expected

MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
01/01/2026 18:08
TV Coverage

Channel 408 TNT Sports 1 SD from 1430
Channel 430 TNT Sports 1 HD from 1430
Also available on Discovery +

Chief Bert
Chief Bert
02/01/2026 11:38
TMO Dean Richards, wasn't he TMO last week ? God help us!!!

Shy Ann
Grandstand Viewer
02/01/2026 11:45
He was and Luke is reffing again? Oh dear, not an ideal combo but lets wait and see. Just hope Harvey doesn't waste a 3 man overlap again!

MESSAGES->author
ouch!_that_hurts
02/01/2026 11:46
Exeter Chiefs:

15 Olly Woodburn
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Will Rigg
11 Campbell Ridl
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney


1 Scott Sio
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Bachuki Tchumbadze
4 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
5 Andrea Zambonin
6 Tom Hooper
7 Ethan Roots
8 Greg Fisilau


Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Will Goodrick-Clarke
18 Jimmy Roots
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Kane James
21 Charlie Chapman
22 Will Haydon-Wood
23 Dan John



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:01:02:11:49:38 by ouch!_that_hurts.

MESSAGES->author
ouch!_that_hurts
02/01/2026 11:48
Bath Rugby

1 Beno Obano,
2 Tom Dunn,
3 Vilikesa Sela,
4 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi (debut),
5 Ross Molony,
6 Ted Hill,
7 Guy Pepper,
8 Alfie Barbeary,
9 Ben Spencer ©,
10 Finn Russell,
11 Will Muir,
12 Cameron Redpath,
13 Ollie Lawrence (50),
14 Henry Arundell,
15 Santi Carreras

Replacements:
16 Kepu Tuipulotu,
17 Scott Kirk,
18 Thomas du Toit,
19 Quinn Roux,
20 Sam Underhill,
21 Tom Carr-Smith,
22 Louie Hennessey,
23 Arthur Green

Chief Bert
Chief Bert
02/01/2026 11:56
I think Barf will be to hot for us as they are a wounded animal after last week and will want a response. However we do have confidence and momentum so hoping to get something from the game, Barf 26 - 21 Exeter.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:01:02:12:53:29 by Chief Bert.

Shy Ann
Grandstand Viewer
02/01/2026 11:56
Bath will come at us full bore after their last outing so it will be the sternest test for us so far.

Bath 25 Chiefs 20

Ljs399
Ljs399
02/01/2026 11:59
Needless to say that this will probably be our toughest game of the season. But with the same winning team as last week, and saints winning at bath last week I’m feeling confident.

Chiefs 32 - 28 Bath

Andy15.1
Andy15.1
02/01/2026 12:13
Bath away with a full crowd always tough but think our pack will hold their own. Could go either way (please please let the officials have a good game the continual forensic dissection of each try is tedious. - same TMO as last week).
I’m going with my heart over head Bath 28 Chiefs 31

Bfatopsham
Not Manichean
02/01/2026 12:23
It was be nice to think that this could be a preview of the Premiership final.

In which case, I'd be content to concede this one in favoured of the final itself...😅

But we do actually have to get to the knockouts so any bonus point would be a minimum requirement. Im going to hope for two

Bath 35 Ex 29

Boldeagle
Boldeagle
02/01/2026 12:29
Bath 26 -19 Chiefs

Undercroft90
Undercroft90
02/01/2026 13:07
Bath are so strong and will no doubt want to get back to winning ways. They have also rotated a bit but have home advantage in a sold out Rec. Chiefs have had to do far less rotation and are showing real grit, so I’m going with heart (after much deliberation)

Bath 24 - Exeter 28

SixNineOne
SixNineOne
02/01/2026 13:25
As usual I shall ignore all rational analysis of the situation and go for Bath 26; Chiefs 31

Mike the shirt
Mike the shirt
02/01/2026 13:39
Heart rules OK:
Bath 31 - 33 Exeter

thestokecanon
thestokecanon
02/01/2026 14:05
Bath 26 - Chiefs 28

MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
02/01/2026 14:05
Bath 34 Chiefs 27

goss8800
Chief Fire Water
02/01/2026 14:22
Bath 21 Chiefs 26

cornwallchief
cornwallchief
02/01/2026 14:22
The battle of the back rows. Bath's team seriously strong with De ToiT and Underhill on the subs bench. How the scrum and breakdown will be reffed key. With Richards as TMO I suspect there will be some cards. We need to keep our possession and give away few penalties. Heart over head but if I am wrong I would like at leat a point. Chiefs 34 Bath 32.

MESSAGES->author
Bodges with Badgers
02/01/2026 14:32
On current form our front 5 might have the edge. Back row and backs quite evenly matched but with Manny and Olly we could outdo them under the high ball. If we're lucky a certain Scottish fly-half will have one his days when he looks like he just can't be arsed.

That said Bath have home advantage, a point to prove and some fabulous players.

Del007
Scottish Chief
02/01/2026 14:39
Bath away will be a tough one, but a LBP would be nice
Bath 34 - 27 Chiefs

dwhite805
dwhite805
02/01/2026 14:51
I think Bath will be really up for this after last week, however, I'm going for 2 bonus points for us Bath 32 Chiefs 26.
With our line-up who covers 9?

MESSAGES->author
Bodges with Badgers
02/01/2026 14:53
Quote:
dwhite805
I think Bath will be really up for this after last week, however, I'm going for 2 bonus points for us Bath 32 Chiefs 26.
With our line-up who covers 9?

Charlie Chapman is the replacement scrum-half. Played well in the Challenge Cup.

Hankey
Hankey
02/01/2026 15:54
Bath 30 Chiefs 36

ExTeddChief
ExTeddChief
02/01/2026 17:20
Leaning towards pessimism here. Bath 35 Chiefs 30

MESSAGES->author
DumnoniiNomad
02/01/2026 18:24
Head says a wounded Bath at home in front of a full house will be significant, but... We have to play what's in front of us, and I'm hopeful we can further dent their armour.
Bath 27 : Chiefs 31

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Chief10tank
Chief10tank
02/01/2026 18:26
Chiefs need to keep their penalty count down and thenshould have a good chance of an away win.

fisher
fisher
02/01/2026 18:41
Heart ruling head Bath 26 - 32 Exe but I could be wrong.

Heavitree Chief
ExeterFan
02/01/2026 18:55
Looking forward to this one, unlike others i have no concern about the team of officials. Our seeming ability/requirement to give away lots of stupid penalties, often one immediately following another, is more worrying. Some rotation from them, which is to be expected, and us unchanged with probably much changing over the next few weeks. They'll be smarting from last week, we have momentum.
A LBP would be amazing from there, a TBP also would be even better. Why not...

Bath 37 Chiefs 31

Rowancroft73
Rowancroft73
03/01/2026 09:33
Barf 31 Chiefs 24

MESSAGES->author
ouch!_that_hurts
03/01/2026 10:29
I'm feeling fairly positive .................. Bath 26 Chiefs 32

Osmium
Osmium
03/01/2026 11:13
I'm not feeling at all positive! But nevertheless:
Bath 29 - 32 Chiefs

Currychief
Currychef
03/01/2026 11:15
Playing away from home. Shouldn’t win this. Bath 29 Exeter 33 I hope!

Big Chief Little Chief
Big Chief Little Chief
03/01/2026 11:27
Any points at all from this game would be a massive success. Think we'll miss the defensive ability of Len today. They look particularly strong at 10-13 if we can stop those three playing we stand a chance. Barf at home with a point to prove will be too much I feel. Barf 31 Chiefs 19

Brent1
Brent1
03/01/2026 14:31
A point or 2 but would be a good result to the current context - as long as they keep fighting for everything

MESSAGES->author
Brave new world
03/01/2026 17:08
The team can be very proud of that performance. 15 against 15 we were the better side I think. I hope we didn't pick up any serious injuries. Discipline was excellent. It feels wrong that a player can get a red card even though he has his eyes trained on and is going for a high ball just because the other player has jumped higher.

MESSAGES->author
ouch!_that_hurts
06/01/2026 10:33
https://i.ibb.co/84BsVzSG/m040126.png

MESSAGES->author
DumnoniiNomad
06/01/2026 10:57
Blimey, Loweratha! You're running away with it this year!👏 No one will post now until you have! 😂

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
06/01/2026 11:27
Quote:
DumnoniiNomad
Blimey, Loweratha! You're running away with it this year!👏 No one will post now until you have! 😂

I hate predicting a loss and almost came unstuck this time.

passing cloud
Moorsman
06/01/2026 17:42
Thought this Observer article might be of interest [observer.co.uk]

Ljs399
Ljs399
06/01/2026 19:31
Quote:
Moorsman
Thought this Observer article might be of interest [observer.co.uk]

Thanks, an interesting read.

Bfatopsham
Not Manichean
06/01/2026 21:08
Quote:
Ljs399
Quote:
Moorsman
Thought this Observer article might be of interest [observer.co.uk]

Thanks, an interesting read.

Agreed. Thanks for posting.

MESSAGES->author
Lowerwatha
07/01/2026 05:58
Thanks Moorsman, good read!

MESSAGES->author
DumnoniiNomad
07/01/2026 17:37
Everything about matchday seems so much more positive, so it's good to see that's not just our feeling. Thanks Moorsman

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

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