By Dylan James

Copyright walesonline

With the new league season starting this weekend, English club sides would have been forgiven for not playing with as much intensity in the PREM Rugby Cup games before it. However, the intensity was sky-high, with Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit getting booed, scoring and then being sent off for fighting against former club Gloucester. Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs seemed to follow with a similar ferocity, with their match descending into chaos at The Recreation Ground. A bundle of players piled into the side of the stands, with England international Ethan Roots having one Bath player in a head lock as others streamed in to get involved. Even Wales forward Christ Tshiunza was forced to intervene as he attempted to dispel the aggression, which took place right under the noses of spectators. It all kicked off after just 30 minutes of play, with a Bath kick being charged down. Great Britain Sevens star Austin Emens collected the diverted ball, and was absolutely thumped into touch by Chiefs lock Rusi Tuima. TNT Sports co-commentator Austin Healey quickly noted how there was no attempt to wrap by Tuima, and suggested that he could be sent off. Bath players were infuriated and quickly piled in. “The first proper skirmish of the 2025/2026 season!” exclaimed TNT Sports commentator Alastair Eykyn as players got stuck in. Check out the footage below. After a review with TMO Dan Jones, referee Craig Maxwell-Keys dished out a yellow card to Tuima. While there was no head contact, it was seen as a failure to wrap. “It’s a massive shot, but you have to make an attempt to wrap that arm around,” explained co-commentator Ben Kay. Chiefs would go on to win the clash 23-14 in atrocious conditions at The Rec. Italian scrum-half and Welsh-born Steven Varney, who has joined Chiefs from Vannes, earned the player of the match accolade. In quite a peculiar occurrence, Varney scored a try from the back of a rolling maul which involved a huge bundle of players. Speaking to TNT Sports’ Sarra Elgan, Varney spoke about picking up the award. “It’s massive for us,” explained Varney. “We wanted to come here to win, Bath made is really tough for us. “I know they had a young squad out, but they did very well. They put us under a lot of pressure, especially in the rubbish conditions. It was a good win.” The 24-year-old was then asked to talk through his try as it was played to him. “The boys are doing well to be fair, driving us forward. I just joined the back and (Joseph) Dweba just gave me the ball randomly so I just jumped over the top. First maul try ever, I think, from a half-back!”. In recent years, there has been a strong Welsh contingent at Chiefs. Despite Varney being an Italian international, he grew up in west Wales, so will feel right at home with the PREM Rugby outfit, who have Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins and Dan John on the books. Of course, Joe Hawkins had been on the books for Chiefs in recent years, but he has since returned to Welsh rugby with Scarlets . He linked up with the west Walian side earlier in the summer, and will be targeting a re-call to the national side now that he is eligible again.