Obano starts first game in 7 months as Bath, Worcester name teams

Fit-again England prop Beno Obano will start his first game in just over seven months when Bath take on Worcester Warriors in their final fixture of the Gallagher Premiership season. The England international returned to action last time out in the win over London Irish following an ACL injury and now makes his seventh appearance of the campaign.

It was in October versus Saracens when Obano ruptured his ACL versus Saracens and with the 27-year-old having inked a contract extension at Bath, he recently told RugbyPass that he now wants to go on and achieve great things.

“I’m at peace with everything but am I happy with everything? Probably not. Like, I wish the previous years we could have won more (at Bath), I could have played more for England and stuff like that but those are things that happen in your career. Like when your knee goes at England camp, that is just the game, that is what we sign up for.

James O’Connor is brilliantly open about his life & career | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 36

James O’Connor is brilliantly open about his life & career | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 36

James O’Connor joins the lads this week to walk us through his phenomenal and often misunderstood career. He talks to us about being the youngest player to line out in Super Rugby and for the Wallabies, struggling with alcohol, fame and partying, as well as playing in London, Manchester and Toulon before returning to Australia. One of the most talented players of his generation, he gives us an incredible insight into the highs and lows of his career so far and what his plans are next. Max and Ryan also cover off the Champions Challenge Cup Finals and the jubilant scenes in La Rochelle

“I’m at peace with that and I’m content with it but am I super happy? No, but there are still a few years to achieve and achieve some good stuff. If these next few years go extremely well the way you look back on the whole thing completely changes.”

Elsewhere in the Bath line-up, Wales No8 Taulupe Faletau will play his last game for the club ahead of his switch to Cardiff as will ex-England out-half Danny Cipriani, who has been named on the bench.

Farewells will also be the order of the day for Worcester as the departing Niall Annett (who is joining Bath), Christian Judge (Saracens) and Sam Lewis started their final Warriors games with Ethan Waller (Northampton) saying his goodbye from the bench in what will also be Alan Solomons’ final match as director of rugby.

BATH: 15. Tom de Glanville; 14. Joe Cokanasiga, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Max Ojomoh, 11. Will Muir; 10. Orlando Bailey, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Ewan Richards, 5. Charlie Ewels (capt), 6. Jaco Coetzee, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Taulupe Faletau. Reps: 16. Jacques du Toit, 17. Valeriy Morozov, 18. Ma’afu Fia, 19. Mike Williams, 20. Miles Reid, 21. Max Green, 22. Danny Cipriani, 23. Gabriel Hamer-Webb

WORCESTER: 15. Jamie Shillcock; 14. Perry Humphreys, 13. Francois Venter, 12. Ashley Beck, 11. Duhan van der Merwe; 10. Fin Smith, 9. Gareth Simpson; 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Niall Annett, 3. Christian Judge, 4. Joe Batley, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Kyle Hatherell, 7. Sam Lewis, 8. Ted Hill (capt). Reps: 16. Isaac Miller, 17. Ethan Waller, 18. Murray McCallum, 19. Andrew Kitchener, 20. Tom Dodd, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Noah Heward, 23. Alex Hearle