Bayliss to lead Bath against Northampton

STUART Hooper has named Josh Bayliss as captain as Bath Rugby head to Northampton in round 11 of the Gallagher Premiership.

Bayliss, pictured, led the Blue, Black & Whites on their last away trip to Franklin’s Gardens in August last year, which resulted in an 18-3 win for the visitors.

Tom Ellis and Elliot Stooke return to the starting line-up for tomorrow’s clash, packing down with front rowers Juan Schoeman, Jack Walker and Christian Judge, while Miles Reid and Zach Mercer start at openside and number eight respectively.

Will Chudley makes his first start of the season at scrum-half, with Rhys Priestland returning at fly-half after his match-winning display last weekend.

Jonathan Joseph teams up with Josh Matavesi in the centres, with Will Muir – recently named in the GB Sevens training squad – and Semesa Rokoduguni on the wings. Tian Schoeman starts at full-back.

Ruaridh McConnochie returns from injury as part of a strong bench, which includes Tom Dunn, Jamie Bhatti, Henry Thomas, Ben

Spencer, Max Clark and up-andcoming starlets Ewan Richards and Ethan Staddon.

Rugby director Stuart Hooper said: “Our match against Saints represents a big challenge and we are looking forward to heading up to Franklin’s Gardens. It’s always an exciting place to go and play and we’ll be looking to repeat the success of our last visit. We’ll be aiming to replicate our success in the set-piece and create a solid platform from which to attack. We want to continue the momentum and come away with a win.”

Hooper added he had no qualms throwing Stooke back into action after the lock’s ban for breaking lockdown rules.

On Wednesday, Stooke was banned from driving for 14 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving having failed a roadside breath test on January 24 when he was involved in a crash coming home from a gathering with team-mate Jonathan Joseph and Wasps’ Gabriel Oghre.

Hooper added: “Stookey is in a good place mentally. He has been incredibly apologetic and remorseful about the situation.”

Bath Rugby: T Schoeman, S Rokoduguni, J Joseph, J Matavesi, W Muir; R Priestland, W Chudley; J Schoeman, J Walker, C Judge, T Ellis, E Stooke, J Bayliss (capt), M Reid, Z Mercer. Replacements: T Dunn, J Bhatti, H Thomas, E Richards, E Staddon, B Spencer, M Clark, R McConnochie.