A Somerset-born player led Bath Rugby to claim the Premiership Rugby Cup – scoring a try after busting his nose.
Bath defeated Exeter Chiefs on Sunday (March 16) 48-14 with Ewan Richards – born in Yeovil – skippering the side, getting his nose busted and then scoring a try.
After receiving the facial injury, Richards went over after picking the ball up from a ruck and diving over the score.
The first half at Sandy Park, Exeter, was an even affair with Bath narrowly edging it at half time despite going behind early. Tom Carr-Smith and Joe Cokanasiga turned the scoreline around with tries that were later converted.
Exeter levelled with a try of their own before a Ciran Donoghue penalty put Bath in front.
In the second half, Bath took control. Thomas Du Toit and Tom Dunn added tries to the scoreline before Richards – who grew up in Shepton Mallet – dove over the line to make the score 36-14.
Tom Dunn got his second try and Louis Schreuder added another score before full time to make the final score 48-14, leaving Richards with the honour of lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup.
It’s is Bath’s first Premiership Cup victory since its inception in 2019.