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Alfie Barbeary on his way to scoring Bath’s fifth try - PA/David Davies
Bath 61 Gloucester 26
Alfie Barbeary’s double helped to seal an emphatic victory in a battle between two West Country bomb squads as Bath booked their trip north for an Challenge Cup semi-final against Edinburgh and kept alive their hopes of a treble.
Barbeary scored once in either half as the hosts careered to a convincing result. The first was an opportunistic effort, the second a bulldozing run that inspired familiar curiosity about his potential to be a weapon at international level.
A place on the tour to Argentina this summer will probably depend on how many of England back-rowers are picked by the British and Irish Lions and Steve Borthwick has tended to favour mobility over power, too. But Barbeary, now 24 and still uncapped, offers a rare capacity to shrug off defenders. Bath did plenty of that here, totting up nine tries in all to leave Gloucester to concentrate on the league.
Both rivals are reasonably recent champions of the Challenge Cup, Gloucester having landed it as recently as 2015 and Bath doing so seven years prior to that. Judging by the selection of two strong squads, they each fancied etching their name on the silverware once more.
George Skivington’s side had a sighter of this game on March 23, when the teams came together in the Premiership. As has become customary for them under Johann van Graan, Bath emptied an imposing six-two bench that day. Interestingly, Gloucester went with six replacement forwards – including several front-liners such as Lewis Ludlam and Jack Clement – as a response here.
As it happened, Bath would get their retaliation in first. Ciaran Donoghue, among their finds of the season, made a ghosting break from an early scrum and fed Will Muir. When the hosts moved the ball back to the right, Tom de Glanville pirouetted on a flat pass from Finn Russell and stretched over.
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Jaco Coetzee breaks away to score Bath’s seventh try - Getty Images/Michael Steele
Donoghue, switched from fly-half to full-back for this match, could not gather the restart and Gloucester hit back almost immediately. Gareth Anscombe’s kick-pass found Santiago Carreras, who converted his own finish superbly.
The tit-for-tat rally continued with Tom Dunn’s pushover, Gloucester having conceded a penalty on the back of Ted Hill’s surge. Russell pushed the conversion this time, inciting cries of “eeyore” from supporters to have travelled up the M5 from Gloucester. Any relish did not last long. Ross Molony pierced midfield from Russell’s short pass and the mulleted, moustachioed Archie Griffin trundled under the posts.
Defence did occasionally assert itself as the scoreboard rattled, Donoghue cutting down Christian Wade with a courageous tackle to force a turnover. Carreras was sparkling, though. Delivering another exhibition of what Bath will have next season when he trades red for blue, the Puma darted at the line and sent Jack Singleton up the middle.
Just as Gloucester were poised to bag a third try, with Hill sin-binned after being tangled in a breakdown close to his own line, Bath stretched their own advantage. Muir regathered a kick superbly and four forwards – Dunn, Beno Obano, Barbeary and Ethan Staddon – and Donoghue linked wonderfully to put Ben Spencer clear.
A gaffe from Russell brought a Gloucester riposte, the Bath fly-half seemingly rushing a 50:22 attempt only to shin the strike directly to Will Butler. Butler sent Jake Morris scuttling down the left and the pair connected again moments later to cap a patient, slick move.
An eighth try, matching the first-half tally from three weeks ago, was the scruffiest. Russell appeared to have knocked-on and Barbeary hacked upfield to pounce. Chris Harris, the Gloucester skipper, was incensed that the try was allowed to stand.
Errors greeted the beginning of the second period and Skivington brought on all six members of his “bomb squad” in unison. Tomos Williams followed, but Barbeary restarted the scoring spree by firing through two tackles to score directly from a line-out. Van Graan promptly sent on five forwards to a chorus of cheers.
One of them, the marauding Jaco Coetzee, repeated Barbeary’s trick, only to injure himself in a collision with the post. Bath have vast back-row resources, but that will be a painful blow.
Although Afo Fasogbon prevented further pain for Gloucester with miraculous tap-tackle on Muir, Hill scored from close range. Lewis Ludlow went over for Gloucester’s fourth, but Tom Carr-Smith ensured that Bath enjoyed the last word, Russell adding the extras to edge his team beyond 60 and into the last four.
Scoring sequence 5-0 De Glanville try, 7-0 Russell con, 7-5 Carreras try, 7-7 Carreras con, 12-7 Dunn try, 17-7 Griffin try, 19-7 Russell con, 19-12 Singleton try, 19-14 Carreras con, 24-14 Spencer try, 26-14 Russell con, 26-19 Butler try, 31-19 Barbeary try, 33-19 Russell con, 38-19 Barbeary try, 40-19 Russell con, 45-19 Coetzee try, 47-19 Russell try, 52-19 Hill try, 54-19 Russell try, 54-24 Ludlow try, 54-26 Carreras con, 59-26 Carr-Smith try, 61-26 Russell con.
Bath C Donoghue; T de Glanville, C Redpath, W Butt, W Muir; F Russell, B Spencer (T Carr-Smith 68); B Obano (F van Wyk 54), T Dunn (N Annett 61), A Griffin (T du Toit 54), Q Roux (J Bayliss 55), R Molony, T Hill, E Staddon (M Reid 55), A Barbeary (J Coetzee 55, M Ojomoh 67).
Gloucester S Carreras; C Wade, C Harris, W Butler (C Atkinson 61), J Morris; G Anscombe, C Englefield (T Williams 51); C Knight (V Rapava Ruskin 45), J Singleton (S Blake 45), K Gotovtsev (A Fasogbon 45), F Clarke, C Jordan (F Thomas 45), D Gwynne (J Clement 45), H Taylor (L Ludlow 45), R Ackermann.
Sin-bin Hill.
Referee S Grove-White.
Attendance 9,445.
07:48 PM BST
Thanks for joining us
That brings our coverage of Bath’s thumping win over Gloucester to an end as Johann van Grann’s side reach the last four of the Challenge Cup. Thanks for joining us!
07:47 PM BST
‘We were beaten in every facet of the game’, says Skivington
Speaking to Premier Sports, Gloucester Director of Rugby George Skivington said: “I thought we made more errors, particularly in the first half, than we’ve made all season I think.
“Look - we were beaten in every facet of the game today, there’s no excuses form us, we weren’t good enough. I’m not quite sure why that was, but nothing we tried today that we thought might catch Bath out worked and I thought Bath were just better than us across the board.”
“We felt if we cut out some of the errors we’d be in the game but ultimately in the second half we fell off tackles, we left massive holes, we missed kicks to touch, we didn’t execute anything actually.”
07:39 PM BST
Van Grann pleased with both aspects of the game
Speaking to Premier Sports, Johann van Grann said: “We knew with Gloucester that the game is never done and there’s quite a few big moments - the yellow card, I thought we defended that really well.
“We keep saying to each other ‘best defence vs best attack’, this game was not only about the attack it was about the defence as well.
“That’s the seventh game in a row we’ve scored 40 points or more, but the most important bit is can we keep the opposition down?”
07:36 PM BST
Van Grann ‘really happy with the win’
Bath director of rugby Johann van Grann told Premier Sports: “Just glad that’s finished. A strange time to play - 5:30 on a Sunday afternoon.
“The clubs done fantastically well to get 10,000 people here on a Sunday afternoon late.
“Gloucester have been playing really well, they gave Bristol 50 points a few weeks ago and then they really fought till the end against Montpellier last week.
“We knew it’s always a tough game so really happy with the win.”
07:33 PM BST
Teams ‘can’t compete’ with Bath’s ‘quality off the bench’, says Barbeary
Bath’s player of the match Alfie Barbeary told Premier Sports: “It’s a huge result for us it’s great to get one over on Gloucester, it was a great game.
“I think our depth in the squad is so competitive and boys coming on the pitch, it really adds energy. I don’t think any team can really compete with us when you have that sort of quality off the bench.”
On the treble hopes, he said: “We’re just focusing on the next game really, we’re back in the prem next week and we’ll go from there.”
07:26 PM BST
Barbeary at the double
Bath’s Alfie Barbeary picked up the player of the match award after scoring a try in each half.
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Bath’s Alfie Barbeary scores his second try of the day - PA/David Davies
07:21 PM BST
WATCH: Barbeary powers through for his second try
07:19 PM BST
In the semi-finals
Bath will take on Edinburgh at the Hive in the semi-finals while the other last four tie sees Racing 92 take on Lyon.
07:17 PM BST
Treble hopes alive
With the Premiership Rugby Cup already in the bag and a 10-point lead at the top of the Premiership table, a Bath treble remains well and truly on the cards. Will anyone be able to stop them in Europe?
07:15 PM BST
Full time: Bath 61 Gloucester 26
Soon after the restart, a knock-on from the hosts brings this quarter-final tie to an end and Bath are into the last four following an emphatic win in this West Country derby.
07:14 PM BST
TRY! Carr-Smith crosses under the posts following surge from Butt
Bath 61 Gloucester 26 (Carr-Smith) Bath combine really nicely down their right before a dummy and surge of pace from Butt takes them within a couple metres of the line.
He manages to offload it to the supporting Carr-Smith who can cross under the posts. Russell makes the conversion and this is well and truly a rout.
07:12 PM BST
77 mins: Bath 54 Gloucester 26
Bath win the foul and can kick for the corner down their right but they give the foul away as they look to maul for the line. The intensity of the first-half feels long gone.
Bath have it back and the ball is nudged through for Muir to chase but Carreras deals with it well.
07:09 PM BST
TRY! Ludlow grabs Gloucester consolation after TMO check
Bath 54 Gloucester 26 (Ludlow) Gloucester mount a rare second-half attack and do manage to cross through Ludlow down the left following some swift passing. The try is ruled out though with the final pass from Ackermann ruled as forwards.
There is a TMO check though and replays suggest it went backwards so the try is given. Carreras converts but it’s nothing more than a consolation.
07:06 PM BST
TRY! Hill gets in on the act as Bath reach half-century
Bath 54 Gloucester 19 (Hill) From the Bath scrum, Russell picks out De Glanville who breaks the line to take his side within 10 metres before a number of pick and goes take them just shy of the line.
Eventually it’s Hill who bundles over for another Bath try. Russell converts again and it’s turning into a hammering now.
07:03 PM BST
70 mins: Bath 47 Gloucester 19
Bath look like they’re in again down the left through Muir but Fasagbon makes a superb tap-tackle to bring down the winger before Muir’s offload goes forward.
As Gloucester shift it to the left, though, they too play it forward and the hosts have a scrum just outside the Gloucester 22.
07:00 PM BST
TRY! Coetzee charges over as Bath dominate
Bath 40 Gloucester 19 (Coetzee) Following the line-out down Bath’s left, Russell works it inside to Coetzee who makes an excellent line-breaking run and he is able to charge over under the posts.
He collides really heavily with the left post though and looks to be in some pain. Russell converts comfortably.
06:58 PM BST
65 mins: Bath 40 Gloucester 19
Wade looks to be in down Gloucester’s right but Muir makes a superb recovering tackle before Bath are in sharply again to win the foul at the breakdown.
Bath are probing around the Gloucester 22 following the line-out but Russell spills it and possession is squandered. Carreras’ kick is straight into touch though. Before the Bath line-out, there is a break in play as Van Wyk receives some treatment.
06:54 PM BST
63 mins: Bath 40 Gloucester 19
Gloucester look to break with speed through Morris but Muir makes a crucial tackle to deny his opposite number and his Bath team-mates are quickly supporting to win the foul at the breakdown.
06:51 PM BST
60 mins: Bath 40 Gloucester 19
Bath take it quickly and make another charge for the line but they are held up this time by the Gloucester defence and a chance goes begging. Haven’t said that much about the hosts this evening.
They are quickly coming back for more though and Coetzee is able to make a line-breaking run to go within 10 metres of the line. Gloucester win the turnover again through Ludlow with Bath off their feet at the breakdown.
06:48 PM BST
56 mins: Bath 40 Gloucester 19
It’s now Bath’s turn to make a host of changes and they make a good impact as the home side are quickly back in the Gloucester 22.
Ludlow is penalised for going in at the side at the breakdown and Russell kicks for the corner down the right.
Bath soon earn the offside advantage, and after the move breaks down as they look to shift it out to the left, play is brought back.
06:44 PM BST
TRY! Bath create daylight
Bath 33 Gloucester 19 (Barbeary) Butler is penalised for a deliberate knock-on but avoids the yellow, probably due to the position on the field. Bath have a good opportunity though now as they kick for the line-out down the right.
The ball is worked inside really swiftly to Barbeary and he charges through a couple of poor Gloucester tackles and crosses for his second of the afternoon.
Russell converts and suddenly the task at hand for Gloucester looks a big one.
06:41 PM BST
50 mins: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
Russell misjudges Anscombe’s kick and finds himself slightly isolated inside his own 22 but the support arrives and Spencer clears.
Moments later and Spencer’s box-kick goes straight into touch so the visitors will have the line-out just in front of the Bath 22 but the hosts manage to turn it over once again.
06:38 PM BST
47 mins: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
Gloucester are offside and it’s another penalty for the hosts. They are going to kick for the posts this time. One Bath fan shouts “boring”.
Russell drags the kick quite far wide and the scores remain as they were.
06:36 PM BST
45 mins: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
Russell’s crossfield kick attempt goes wrong but they had the advantage and kick for the corner, down the left this time.
Dunn goes short at the line-out but it doesn’t work out as it hits the back of Griffin.
It’s time for those Gloucester changes as three quarters of the pack make way.
06:34 PM BST
43 mins: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
Gloucester are under immediate pressure but win the foul at the Bath scrum on the edge of their own 22 and can clear the danger.
The kick doesn’t make touch though and following a Bath clearance, the hosts then win the foul at the breakdown through Redpath. Russell kicks for the corner.
06:31 PM BST
41 mins: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
Gloucester are back out on the pitch first but they are eventually joined by the hosts who get this second half underway kicking from left to right.
The shadows are long now on the pitch at the Rec and the potentially difficult sun for Gloucester is instantly shown as they spill Russell’s restart.
06:28 PM BST
WATCH: Spencer finishes off superb Bath try
06:26 PM BST
The half-time stats
Possession: 52%-48%
Metres made: 227-231
Defenders beaten: 13-20
Tackles made: 41-56
Turnovers won: 3-2
06:22 PM BST
Impact of replacements will be critical
Breezy fare in Bath, though enjoyable nonetheless. The hosts are ahead and have their treble ambitions on course.
Gloucester have selected a strong bench… but Bath have Thomas du Toit on theirs. As ever, the timing and the impact of the replacements will be critical in this one.
A trip to Edinburgh is the prize, do not forget.
06:16 PM BST
Half-time: Bath 33 Gloucester 19
That try is the last meaningful action of this first half which comes to an end after an enthralling 40 minutes of rugby.
It’s been another try-fest at the Rec but it’s the hosts who have the lead and a 14-point advantage following that late score by Barbeary.
06:15 PM BST
TRY! Bath hit back through Barbeary
Bath 33 Gloucester 19 (Barbeary) Russell barges through a couple of challenges before the ball is squirmed away from his grasp.
Butt is there though to hack it on into the Gloucester 22 before Barbeary nudges it further on and he can chase his own kick to cross in the corner.
There is a TMO check for whether it went forwards out of Russell’s hands but the try stands. The fly-half then converts from out wide.
06:11 PM BST
TRY! Morris finishes off swift Gloucester move
Bath 26 Gloucester 19 (Morris) Russell’s kick is a poor one and straight at Butler who pops it off to Harris and he can drive his side up the pitch.
They move it out to the right flank before switching it back to left with pace and Morris crosses in the corner.
Carreras’ conversion attempt strikes the right post so the deficit remains at seven.
06:08 PM BST
34 mins: Bath 26 Gloucester 14
Gloucester move it along nicely to Harris on the right flank but he juggles it as he looks to gather and is forced into touch. A let-off for the hosts.
Spencer’s kick goes straight into touch and Gloucester will have the line-out just in front of the Bath 22. Wade spills it as it’s moved to the left though and Bath have the scrum.
Gloucester need to cut out these careless handling errors to have a chance this evening.
06:04 PM BST
Carreras impressing before Bath move
Santi Carreras is putting on another exhibition of what Bath fans can look forward to next season. He was exceptional in the Premiership fixture last month and has begun brilliantly for Gloucester again.
Deian Gwynne is throwing his weight around for the visitors as well. He was part of the Wales Under-20 team that hijacked England’s Grand Slam bid at Cardiff Arms Park fairly recently.
06:03 PM BST
TRY! Spencer extends Bath lead once again
Bath 26 Gloucester 14 (Spencer) Bath win the foul at the breakdown a couple of metres in front of their own line and that relieves a load of pressure.
Moments later and Muir makes an excellent take from the Bath box kick and the hosts shift it along really nicely to Staddon on the left flank. He pops it back inside for Spencer who can cross unchallenged.
Russell converts and the lead is back up to 12.
06:00 PM BST
28 mins: Bath 19 Gloucester 14
Gloucester win the foul at the breakdown but Muir manages to keep the huge Gloucester kick in play. Bath’s clearance is dragged into touch though and the visitors have the line-out just outside the 22 down the right.
Griffin knocks it on as he looks to make the interception and Gloucester have the scrum on the 22. It’s Carreras who goes for the crossfield kick this time to Butler down the right but Muir makes a try-saving challenge.
Hill is penalised though for not moving away at the breakdown and he sees yellow.
05:57 PM BST
On course for a try-fest
Eight tries between these teams in the Premiership at the end of March. Four in the opening quarter today. We’re on track for another West Country try-fest.
Intrigued to see how Ciaran Donoghue goes for Bath. He is regarded as their find of the season and has just made an excellent tackle on Christian Wade to force a turnover.
05:55 PM BST
TRY! Singleton gets one back for Gloucester
Bath 19 Gloucester 14 (Singleton) Gloucester break into the Bath 22 and work it to the right from the breakdown.
Carreras pops it outside to Singleton who breaks the line before stepping past Donoghue and crossing under the posts.Wonderful feet from the hooker.
Carreras makes the conversion and the deficit is back to five.
05:53 PM BST
21 mins: Bath 19 Gloucester 7
Wade looks to get his legs going down the right but an excellent tackle from Donoghue forces the Gloucester man to lose hold of it and Bath can come away.
De Glanville pulls off an excellent chip and chase but it’s knocked on by the supporting Spencer.
05:50 PM BST
19 mins: Bath 19 Gloucester 7
Obano and Roux are penalised for going in from the side at the breakdown and Carreras kicks for the corner. He’s cutting it fine with the kick but it just about gets into touch in time. Turns out to be an excellent nudge, setting up the line-out from five metres.
Gloucester maul for the line but the referee pulls it back for a dummy-throw. It was quite a late call but the correct one.
05:47 PM BST
TRY! Griffin adds quickfire third for hosts
Bath 19 Gloucester 7 (Griffin) It’s spilt by Bath from the restart but it went backwards and they manage to hack it clear before forcing the turnover at the subsequent Gloucester line-out.
They’re quickly back in the 22 and quickly have another try. Some really slick passing allows Molony to break the defensive line. He tumbles before the try-line but offloads to the supporting Griffin who crosses under the posts.
Russell converts with ease.
05:43 PM BST
TRY! Bath restore lead instantly through Dunn
Bath 12 Gloucester 7 (Dunn) As Bath come into the Gloucester 22, the visitors think they have turned it over at the breakdown but they are penalised for being off their feet and Russell kicks to the corner down the left.
They look to maul to the line and, with relative ease, tumble over through Dunn who peels to the right at the final moment. What a lightning start to this game. Two Bath attacks and two tries.
Russell uncharacteristically pushes his conversion wide so the lead remains at five.
05:40 PM BST
TRY! Carreras provides instant Gloucester response
Bath 7 Gloucester 7 (Carreras) Gloucester look for the instant response and they have it! Butler’s superb pass finds Harris on the left flank as he can drive to within a few metres of the line.
The ball is worked back inside and Anscombe’s pin-point crossfield kick picks out Carreras on the right and he crosses in the corner despite the efforts of Muir.
He then converts his own try to level things up.
05:36 PM BST
TRY! De Glanville crosses from Bath’s first attack
Bath 7 Gloucester 0 (De Glanville) The first scrum on halfway collapses before Bath work it to the left from the second. Russell sprays a pass to Donoghue, who steps back inside and darts between a gap in the Gloucester defence.
He moves it on to Muir on the flank who is tackled a metre short of the line. The ball is recycled and De Glanville is able to cross to the right of the posts.
Russell converts and Bath have a seven-point lead following their first attack.
05:33 PM BST
3 mins: Bath 0 Gloucester 0
It’s a sharp start from the visitors, moving the ball from right to left with some swift passing, but Harris’ pass out to Carreras on the wing goes forward.
Bath’s Dunn is down and receiving treatment after that first spell of play, testing the movement of his right arm. There is a brief TMO check but it was judged to have been a rugby collision.
05:31 PM BST
1 min: Bath 0 Gloucester 0
We are underway here at the Rec with Carreras and Gloucester kicking things off going from left to right.
Despite the local rivalry, both sides are in their continental strips.
05:29 PM BST
Players make their way out
The players have emerged onto the pitch at the Rec to a warm reception and kick-off is just a couple of minutes away now. Conditions are ideal in Bath this evening.
A reminder the winner of tonight’s tie will set up a semi-final clash away against Edinburgh following their victory over Bulls on Saturday.
05:25 PM BST
Kick-off approaching
We are just five minutes away from kick-off here at the Rec for this West Country derby as Bath and Gloucester clash for a place in the last four of the Challenge Cup.
It’s two from two for the hosts against their local rivals so far this season but will they come out on top again this evening? The action begins shortly.
05:21 PM BST
Final preparations
30 mins until kick-off at The Rec.#BATvGLO | pic.twitter.com/DwJCrxPgOP
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) April 13, 2025
05:17 PM BST
Have Gloucester learnt from recent Premiership defeat?
It is not as warm or sunny as it has been over the past week, but the rain is holding off at The Rec and it should be an intriguing game.
George Skivington’s side had a sighter of this game on March 23, when the teams came together in the Premiership. Bath emptied an imposing six-two bench that day and ran out pretty comfortable winners.
Interestingly, Gloucester have gone with six forwards – including several front-liners such as Lewis Ludlam and Jack Clement – for today as a response. We will see how that goes. Fifteen minutes until kick-off now.
05:15 PM BST
Skivington on challenge of playing Bath at the Rec
Gloucester head coach George Skivington has said beating Bath at the Recreation Ground is “one of the biggest challenges” in European rugby.
“It’s probably the biggest challenge in Premiership rugby, one of the biggest challenges in European rugby, you’re going to the top of the league in the Premiership against a star-studded team,” Skivington told BBC.
“I don’t think they’ll blink that they’ve lost Sam Underhill [to a ban], that shows the depth they’ve got.”
“They’re very well organised so it’s a massive challenge but we played them a couple of weeks ago,” Skivington added.
“There’s some areas we know we weren’t quite good enough and a couple of areas we let them in. Tactically we know we can be better and we can put in a better performance than we did.”
05:14 PM BST
The bosses
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George Skivington (left), Director of Rugby of Gloucester and Johann van Graan Director of Rugby of Bath - Getty Images /Michael Steele
05:11 PM BST
Previous meetings this season
Bath hosted Gloucester just three weeks ago in the Premiership and won 42-26 after also coming out on top in the reverse fixture in October with a 55-31 triumph at Kingsholm.
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Will Muir of Bath during the recent home clash against Gloucester - Getty Images/Patrick Khachfe
05:07 PM BST
Bath’s domestic dominance
Bath have enjoyed a dominant season domestically, currently enjoying a 10-point lead at the top of the Premiership having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup, with a 48-14 win over Exeter Chiefs in the final.
Johann van Graan’s side have lost just twice from their 13 league games this season as they head for a first title since 1996.
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Ben Spencer the captain of Bath Rugby acknowledges Harlequins’ applause - Getty Images/Michael Steele
05:03 PM BST
Gloucester step up in last 16
Gloucester scraped through to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup, finishing fourth in their pool, just a point ahead of Vannes in fifth.
But they have seized the opportunity with an impressive 24-17 victory away at Montpellier, who had finished first in Pool 2.
04:59 PM BST
Bath’s European campaign so far
Bath dropped down into the Challenge Cup after finishing fifth in their Champions Cup pool, behind Leinster, La Rochelle, Benetton and Clermont.
They joined the tournament in emphatic fashion, though, thumping Pau 49-24 away from home in the last 16.
04:55 PM BST
Van Graan on quarter-final clash
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan has said this evening’s quarter-final will show who can “handle the pressure”.
“I think the difference between a normal Premiership game and this game is it’s knockout. It will be fascinating to see how both teams handle the pressure,” Van Graan told BBC.
“We saw it again in the Champions [Cup] and the Challenge Cup on the weekend, pressure in a knockout game is a funny thing. Sometimes it goes to the last play, sometimes it’s a drop-goal, sometimes it’s a blowout score.
“The only thing we can control is our performance and what we do in the week.”
04:51 PM BST
Russell back in the mix
Finn Russell was all smiles as he arrived at the Recreation Ground this afternoon ahead of his return to the side after being rested against Pau in the last 16.
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Finn Russell of Bath Rugby arrives at the stadium - Getty Images /Michael Steele
04:47 PM BST
Skivington on Montpellier victory
Gloucester head coach George Skivington has said his side’s win over Montpellier in the round of 16 was a “big statement”.
“I think going over to France and winning against a big team is something that we wanted to do, we wanted to make a bit of a statement,” he told BBC.
“It’s really exciting for some of those young lads on that squad on the weekend to go over to Montpellier and turn them over, and I thought there was ugly moments within it but the character shown and resilience from the boys was outstanding.”
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Gloucester’s Director of Rugby George Skivington - Getty Images /Bob Bradford
04:43 PM BST
European pedigree
Gloucester have won the Challenge Cup on two occasions, first in 2006 before triumphing again in 2015.
As for Bath, they have won the tournament just once, in 2008, but do have a Champions Cup victory to their name as well in 1998, when the competition was known as the Heineken Cup.
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Andy Nicol from Bath holds the Heineken Cup in 1998 - Getty Images /Dimitri Iundt
04:38 PM BST
Gloucester in the building
04:34 PM BST
At stake this evening
The winner of tonight’s tie will set up a semi-final clash away against Edinburgh following their victory over Bulls on Saturday.
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Edinburgh Rugby celebrate at full time - Getty Images/Euan Cherry
04:30 PM BST
Challenge Cup quarter-finals
Saturday, 12 April
- Connacht 40-43 Racing 92
- Ospreys 18-20 Lyon
- Edinburgh 34-28 Bulls
Sunday, 13 April
- Bath v Gloucester (17:30)
04:26 PM BST
Underhill suspended
England international Sam Underhill misses out after being given a three-week suspension following his red card in Bath’s Challenge Cup win against Pau in the last 16.
Underhill was sent off for a high tackle on Pau’s Oliver Klemenczak but could see his ban reduced to two weeks if he completes a World Rugby coaching course.
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Bath’s Sam Underhill misses out today through suspension - PA/Mike Egerton
04:21 PM BST
Those teams in full
Bath: 15 Ciaran Donoghue, 14 Tom de Glanville, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Alfie Barbeary.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Franzcois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Jaco Coetzee.
Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Chris Harris ©, 12 Will Butler
11 Jake Morris, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Caolan Englefield; 1 Ciaran Knight, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Kirill Gotovtsev, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Deian Gwynne, 7 Harry Taylor, 8 Ruan Ackermann.
Replacements: 16 Seb Blake, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Afo Fasogbon, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Lewis Ludlow, 21 Jack Clement, 22 Tomos Williams, 23 Charlie Atkinson.
04:17 PM BST
Five changes for Gloucester as Anscombe features
There are five changes to the Gloucester side which started in the win over Montpellier, with Gareth Anscombe one of the players to come into the team as he returns at fly-half.
Harris captains the side.
Anscombe returns at fly-half.
Tomos back on the bench.
Your Gloucester Rugby side to take on @BathRugby at The Rec in a @ChallengeCup_ quarter-final.
️ https://t.co/rYWHUkKM8o#BATvGLO | pic.twitter.com/RSD2pi2Am7
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) April 11, 2025
04:13 PM BST
Bath make six changes as Russell returns
Rugby Johann van Graan has made six changes to the Bath side for this evening’s clash following the win over Pau with Finn Russell among those to come into the side.
04:08 PM BST
Preview: Bath look to maintain treble hopes in West Country derby
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Challenge Cup quarter-finals as Bath host Gloucester in a West Country derby at the Recreation Ground. Having already claimed one trophy this season with victory in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and with a 10-point lead at the top of the Premiership table, Bath will be looking to keep hopes of a treble alive with victory this evening.
Gloucester, meanwhile, are looking to reach the Challenge Cup final for the second season on the spin but will be hoping to go one better than last year, when they were beaten by Sharks to the title. George Skivington’s side are enjoying an improved season domestically this time around, currently sitting fourth in the Premiership standings following a ninth-placed finish in the previous campaign.
Bath dropped down into the Challenge Cup after finishing fifth in their Champions Cup pool, behind Leinster, La Rochelle, Benetton and Clermont. They joined the tournament in emphatic fashion, though, thumping Pau 49-24 away from home in the last 16. As for Gloucester, they scraped through to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup, finishing fourth in their pool, just a point ahead of Vannes in fifth, but seized the opportunity with an impressive 24-17 victory away at Montpellier, who had finished first in Pool 2.
It’s Bath who have come out on top in the previous meetings this season with Johann van Graan’s side winning 42-26 when the sides clashed at the Recreation Ground just three weeks ago after running out 55-31 victors in the reverse fixture in October. Speaking this week, Skivington said that beating Bath on their turf is “one of the biggest challenges” in European rugby.
The winner of tonight’s tie will set up a semi-final clash away against Edinburgh following their victory over Bulls on Saturday.
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