Exclusive: ‘Box office’ Finn Russell can restore Bath to Premiership title contenders, says Ugo Monye

Once a regular fixture in the hunt for the play-offs, the West Country giants have fallen from grace in recent years, finishing bottom of the pile in 2021/22.

Bath have not made the play-offs since 2020 but Monye believes a top-four finish is achievable for English rugby’s six-time league winners.

An eighth-place finish last season secured Champions Cup rugby and Monye says Bath have all the ingredients to go from strength to strength on the domestic stage.

“Bath are top-four contenders in my eyes, I think they’re that good,” said Monye.

“They’ve recruited incredibly well and what we saw especially in the second half of the season is an attacking identity emerging. Add in Finn Russell and I think they will be class.”

Russell will join Bath after the culmination of this year’s World Cup, ending a successful spell with the French Top 14 club Racing 92.

It represents a major coup for Bath, with Russell adding further quality to a squad recently bolstered by the arrivals of Wasps back-row forward, Alfie Barbeary, plus the England internationals Ollie Lawrence and Ted Hill from Worcester.

“He is the headline signing of the season,” said Monye.

“I think Russell is the most naturally-talented fly-half in the world. He is truly world-class, he’s going to light up the Premiership. He is box office.

“Any team that has a magician like him in their side is going to be excellent.

“Bath had a slightly stop-start season last time round, didn’t start in the way they would’ve wanted but credit to Johann van Graan and his players because they’ve stuck to who they are as a team.”

Last season saw Saracens crowned Premiership champions for the sixth time after a 35-25 final win over Sale Sharks at Twickenham.

A year after losing the decider against Leicester, Sarries went one better and ended a four-year league title drought following their relegation to the Championship.

“Saracens were by far and away the best team in the league last year, didn’t lose a single game at home in the Premiership,” said Monye.

“They’re exceptional. It’s not just the players, they’ve also got the best coaching staff in the league.”

Sale were 60 minutes away from a second Premiership title having taken an early lead against Saracens at Twickenham, but the Londoners eventually proved too strong.

The Greater Manchester outfit finished the regular season six points adrift of table-toppers Saracens and Monye expects them to push the defending champs all the way again.

“In terms of rivals for their crown, Sale will be there or thereabouts once again,” he said.

“The last time I was there was for the Premiership semi-finals and it was a sell-out.

“All the players, staff and the community had t-shirts that said ‘Northern Rugby Matters’ and it was the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at Sale Sharks.

“What they’re building there under the stewardship of Alex Sanderson is tremendous and I’m excited to go and see how they do next season.”

The Sharks will be hoping the arrival of England and British and Irish Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will help them go one better this season.

Cowan-Dickie joins Sale from fellow Premiership club Exeter Chiefs. The 30-year-old had been set to join French side Montpellier following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and Monye thinks France’s loss could be Sale’s gain.

“He’s the type of player and character that Alex Sanderson will love and I think the fans will love him,” Monye said.

“Combative, physical and brilliant in the set-piece and that’s exactly the foundations which Sale have built their game upon.

“He’s a proper leader who will add so much to what Sale are building.”

The last four seasons have seen four different title winners and Monye is anticipating another unpredictable campaign of domestic drama.

“The thing with the Premiership is because it’s so competitive, I could list so many teams that will be challenging at the top,” he said.

“Besides Bath, Harlequins will be there or thereabouts and Northampton are a brilliant side to watch.

“Bristol will be a lot better this season. Exeter have had this changing of the guard, losing lots of key players but their young players have come through and are starting to make a name for themselves at Sandy Park.

“I honestly believe any of those teams could find themselves in the top four come the end of the season.”