Champions Cup 2025/26 · Play-Offs
Bath
Northampton Saints
The Recreation Ground, Bath
Championship Standings
Bath and Northampton Saints finished level on 16 points in the Champions Cup pool phase, separated only by point difference — Bath's +91 was the best in the competition outside the three unbeaten sides, while Northampton's +46 placed them 5th. This is a 4th-vs-5th seeding clash — the tightest matchup of the play-off round on paper.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bordeaux-Bègles | 4 | 4 | 0 | +76 | 20 |
| 2 |  Glasgow Warriors | 4 | 4 | 0 | +49 | 20 |
| 3 |  Leinster | 4 | 4 | 0 | +35 | 18 |
| 4 | Bath | 4 | 3 | 1 | +91 | 16 |
| 5 | Northampton Saints | 4 | 3 | 1 | +46 | 16 |
| 6 |  Harlequins | 4 | 3 | 1 | +98 | 15 |
| 7 |  Bristol Bears | 4 | 3 | 1 | +50 | 14 |
| 8 |  RC Toulon | 4 | 3 | 1 | +17 | 14 |
| 9 |  Stormers | 4 | 3 | 1 | −8 | 14 |
| 10 |  Toulouse | 4 | 2 | 2 | +94 | 12 |
| 11 |  Sale Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −38 | 11 |
| 12 |  Saracens | 4 | 2 | 2 | +13 | 10 |
| 13 |  Castres Olympique | 4 | 2 | 2 | −8 | 10 |
| 14 |  Sharks | 4 | 2 | 2 | −10 | 10 |
| 15 |  Edinburgh | 4 | 2 | 2 | −71 | 10 |
| 16 |  Munster | 4 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 8 |
| 17 |  Bulls | 4 | 1 | 3 | −68 | 7 |
| 18 |  Leicester Tigers | 4 | 1 | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 19 |  La Rochelle | 4 | 1 | 3 | −13 | 6 |
| 20 |  Gloucester | 4 | 1 | 3 | −27 | 6 |
| 21 |  Section Paloise | 4 | 1 | 3 | −50 | 6 |
| 22 |  Scarlets | 4 | 0 | 4 | −54 | 3 |
| 23 |  Clermont | 4 | 0 | 4 | −108 | 0 |
| 24 |  Bayonne | 4 | 0 | 4 | −115 | 0 |
Bath
W3, L1Bath were the most prolific attacking team in the Champions Cup pool phase, scoring 180 points in four matches — an average of 45 per game. The 63–10 demolition of Edinburgh and 40–14 dismantling of Munster at The Rec were statement performances. Their only loss was an 11-point defeat in Toulon. The R16 win over Saracens (31–22) was controlled rather than spectacular.
Northampton Saints
W3, L1Northampton averaged 39 points per game in the pools — prolific in attack but leakier in defence than Bath, conceding 110 points compared to Bath's 89. The 50–5 demolition of the Bulls was outstanding. Their R16 win over Castres (49–41) was emphatic in attack but defensively sloppy — conceding 41 points at home to a Castres side ranked 13th raises questions.
Head-to-Head Record
3 – 0 – 7
Bath wins · Draws · Northampton wins (last 10 meetings)
Bath (3)Northampton have dominated this fixture recently, winning 7 of the last 10 meetings including the 2024 Premiership Final (25–21). But Bath's wins have been emphatic — 43–12 and 38–16 at The Rec. The most recent meeting saw Northampton run riot at The Rec in December 2025 with a 41–21 victory.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | Premiership | Bath 21–41 Northampton |
| Jan 2025 | Premiership | Northampton 35–34 Bath |
| Sep 2024 | Premiership | Bath 38–16 Northampton |
| Jun 2024 | Premiership Final | Northampton 25–21 Bath |
| May 2024 | Premiership | Bath 43–12 Northampton |
| Nov 2023 | Premiership | Northampton 24–18 Bath |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Bath 28 – Northampton 30. Across the last 10 meetings, the aggregate scoring is remarkably close — this fixture produces high-scoring, dramatic games with an average combined total of 58 points.
Extended Form
Bath14W, 3L
Wins include: Saracens 31–22 (ECC R16), Saracens 62–15, Gloucester 38–26, Bristol 33–24, Sale 60–19, Edinburgh 63–10 (ECC), Munster 40–14 (ECC), Castres 43–20 (ECC away). Losses: Northampton 21–41, Leicester 46–21, Exeter 31–19.
Bath's home record at The Rec is extraordinary — 14 wins from 17 in the last 12 months. Their two Champions Cup matches at The Rec (63–10 vs Edinburgh, 40–14 vs Munster) demonstrate just how lethal they are in European competition on their own turf.
Northampton Saints10W, 5L
Wins include: Saracens 21–17, Bath 41–21 (at Bath), Harlequins 40–24, Newcastle 49–21, Saracens 35–33, Leicester 40–22. Losses: Exeter 31–14, Bristol 46–12, Bordeaux 50–28 (ECC).
Northampton's away record is solid. The 41–21 win at The Rec in December stands out as directly relevant. But the 46–12 loss at Bristol and the 50–28 defeat at Bordeaux show they can be blown away on the road by high-quality opposition.
Bath XV
Lineups not yet announced. Bath's likely XV will be built around Finn Russell at fly-half, Ollie Lawrence and Cameron Redpath in midfield, Joe Cokanasiga and Henry Arundell in the back three. The pack should feature Thomas Du Toit and Will Stuart in the front row.
Northampton Saints XV
Lineups not yet announced. Northampton will look to Fin Smith at fly-half, Alex Mitchell at scrum-half, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme on the wings, and Henry Pollock at No. 8.
Key Matchups
This is a genuine clash of equals across the park. Finn Russell's experience and creative genius gives Bath a marginal edge at 10. The Lawrence/Redpath midfield is the best centre pairing in English rugby. But Northampton's back three of Freeman, Sleightholme, and Furbank is devastating in transition. The decisive edge may simply be venue — The Rec under lights for a European knockout is a ferocious environment.
Match Forecast
This is the hardest game to call in the Champions Cup play-offs. The scorecard net of +4 from Bath's perspective reflects just how close these sides are — level on 16 points in the pool phase, separated only by point difference. Bath's home advantage at The Rec (+3) is the single biggest factor, but it's tempered by the fact that Northampton won 41–21 on this very ground in December.
Northampton's path to victory runs through Alex Mitchell's tempo, Henry Pollock's carrying, and the Freeman/Sleightholme finishing combination. But Bath's defensive record in Europe is markedly better (89 points conceded vs 110), and Finn Russell in knockout rugby at home is a different proposition. Expect a high-scoring, tight contest decided by fine margins.
Bath to edge a tight, high-scoring European classic at The Rec — but Northampton have the firepower to make this a genuine coin flip.