Bath Vs Harlequins: Late Team News Shakes Up The Rec Ahead Of 5.30pm Kickoff
bath vs harlequins arrives at the Rec on Saturday with late changes, clear league pressure and a sharp edge to the build-up. Bath Rugby host Harlequins in Round 13 of the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM, with kickoff set for 5. 30pm ET.
Bath go into the match sitting second in the league table after last weekend’s 43-41 quarter-final win over Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup, which booked a semi-final away at Bordeaux-Begles. Harlequins arrive ninth in the Gallagher PREM after a weekend off, following a 26-17 defeat to Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup round of 16, and they need an eighth-place finish or better to reach next season’s Champions Cup.
Late changes define bath vs harlequins
The most immediate update is a late reshuffle for Harlequins. Luke Northmore failed a late fitness test and is replaced by Sean Kerr at 13, while hooker Jack Walker is no longer involved after attending the birth of his child. Jack Musk and Cam Anderson move onto the bench.
Bath also make a notable change, with Tom Carr-Smith starting in place of Ben Spencer and Bernard van der Linde coming onto the bench. That adds another layer to a Bath vs Harlequins contest already framed by selection decisions and the demands of a busy run-in.
Bath’s starting side includes Santi Carreras, Joe Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh, Henry Arundell, Finn Russell, Ben Spencer, Scott Kirk, Tom Dunn, Vilikesa Sela, Ewan Richards, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper and Alfie Barbeary. Their replacements are Dan Frost, Francois van Wyk, Thomas du Toit, Ross Molony, Josh Bayliss, Tom Carr Smith, Louie Hennessey and Miles Reid.
What the table pressure means
Bath have lost only two of their 12 Prem matches this season, and they come into this fixture on the back of four straight wins. That run includes last weekend’s win over Northampton, a result that lifted confidence but also widened the picture around their season because a Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux is now next on the calendar.
Harlequins, meanwhile, are under direct pressure in the league. Sitting ninth, they need to climb into the top eight to secure a place in next season’s Champions Cup, which gives this bath vs harlequins meeting added weight beyond the immediate points on offer.
Harlequins make seven changes
Harlequins have made seven changes from the team that lost to Sale a fortnight ago, with Chandler Cunningham-South selected in the second row. Lucas Friday starts at scrum-half alongside fly-half Jarrod Evans, while Marcus Smith wears the 15 jersey.
The visitors’ starting group also includes David, Northmore, Bradley, Murley, Hobson, Turner, Jones, Treadwell, Petti Pagadizabal, Kenningham and Dombrandt. Their bench and back-row options point to a side built to stay competitive early and respond to the pace of the match.
There is also a clear tactical question attached to Bath’s selection. With a Champions Cup semi-final coming in a fortnight, the home side have kept some big names back, even while naming a strong team for Saturday’s league assignment.
What comes next at the Rec
The game is set to be watched closely from the opening whistle, with Bath looking to protect their position near the top of the table and Harlequins needing points to keep their European hopes alive. The next major development after bath vs harlequins will be how both teams respond over the closing stretch of the season, with Bath balancing domestic pressure and European ambitions while Harlequins chase the top-eight finish they need.
