When Bath Rugby take on Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup on September 21, another season will be under way.

While the World Cup contingent are gearing up for action in Japan, that encounter at Sandy Park will be the first chance to see how the Blue, Black and White squad is shaping up for the challenge of the 2019/20 campaign.

Will they start sharp or rusty under new director of rugby Stuart Hooper? How much experimentation with selection will be done before the Gallagher Premiership starts against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate on October 18?

Last season, when Bath snuck into sixth place to qualify for this season's Heineken Champions Cup, there was one unexpected standout performer above all in Ruaridh McConnochie a he exploded into his first season since joining from England 7s.

We've picked out five players to watch for the coming campaign. They may not all end up regular first-teamers, but they could all have an interesting influence in their own ways...

Josh McNally

The lock, who can also play back row, has some big boots to fill with Dave Attwood now at Bristol Bears.

McNally, 28, comes with a good pedigree. The RAF corporal was London Irish captain last season and named in the Green King IPA Championship team of the season. He has also trained with England before.

The last time he played at the Rec was at the end of the season the Exiles got relegated - 2017/18 - when he played on the blindside flank.

McNally is as tall as Attwood at 6ft 7ins and weighs more at close to 20st, although Attwood's weight has fluctuated throughout his career.

It will be interesting to see whether he can provide as much power and impact in the scrums, mauls and defence as Big Dave did.

Josh McNally

Christian Judge

The front row is where Bath have done most of their recruitment, with loosehead Lewis Boyce plus tightheads Will Stuart and Christian Judge coming in.

All three have shown their potential to become first-team regulars, but will they be able to force their way into the starting berths ahead of the likes of the established Nathan Catt, Beno Obano and Henry Thomas.

The new prop I'm most looking forward to watching is Judge. It looks like Bath pulled off quite a coup in signing him.

He was at Cornish Pirates but spent most of last season on loan at Saracens, even coming off the bench in the Premiership final against Exeter Chiefs.

Had Bath not snapped him up early he would probably be plying his trade full-time with the champions. The experience he gained at Allianz Park will have no doubt accelerated the 26-year-old's progression.

It's been a while since a fully-fit Thomas has had genuine competition for the number-three shirt. This season he should have two contenders in Judge and Stuart, who played in 14 Premiership games for Wasps last season and is still recovering from ankle surgery.

Christian Judge charges upfield a gainst Bath Rugbywhile on loan at Saracens

Tom de Glanville

This is the season we should see Tom de Glanville make his Gallagher Premiership debut. The England U20s back has graduated from the academy to the first-team squad.

I would expect him to transfer from the University of Leeds - where he has done one year - to an education establishment closer to Bath as he will be expected to train full time with the rest of the players.

It's World Cup year and three of Bath's back three - Anthony Watson, Joe Cokanasiga and Ruaridh McConnochie - are all in the England squad, which leaves room for others to play in some of the big games in the first half of the season, not just the four Premiership Rugby Cup rounds in September and October.

Young de Glanville has played across the backline for Beechen Cliff school, club and country. Having spoken to DoR Hooper and Performance Director Andy Rock - who was in charge of the Academy - he appears more likely to play his senior rugby at 15 or 13, rather than fly-half.

It will be fascinating to see if his wide skillset can flourish under the pressure of full-time top-flight rugby.

Tom de Glanville in action for England U20s

Taulupe Faletau

A strange selection? Yes, Faletau is world famous and has been at the club since 2016, but Bath have not seen the best of the Wales and British & Irish Lions number eight yet.

If, and it's a big if, he can put an end to his torrid run of serious injuries, it will be like having a new player. All three of his seasons at Bath have been marred by long lay-offs.

Bath were expecting not to have Faletau at the start of the 2019/20 campaign but his broken collar bone - ruling him out of the World Cup - means he could be fit to start the Premiership in October and won't be called back up for international duty again until the Six Nations at the end of January.

Faletau - understood to be the highest paid player at Bath - has two more seasons at the Rec and fans, coaches and the player himself will be hoping he can put a long run of games together and showcase his skills at last.   

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Ruaridh McConnochie

The breakthrough star of last season and a potential star for England once he finally makes his debut.

Despite McConnochie's rapid rise, he is unlikely to start the big games at the World Cup in the face of competition from Watson, Cokanasiga, Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Elliot Daly.

What is more interesting from a Bath point of view is whether he can build on his debut season and how much better he can be at the 15-a-side game? He is still a relative novice in terms of the professional game, albeit with international 7s skills in the bank.

Will he remain a winger or become more of a full-back? Such is his attitude, strength of character and experience in the shorter version of the game, McConnochie won't be fazed going into season two.

The key for Bath will be to manage him well on his return from the World Cup. He had a very short pre-season break last Summer and his involvement in training camps this Summer, followed by the tournament in Japan, makes the coming campaign a long and intense one.

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