Scotland star Finn Russell enjoyed his return to familiar surroundings as Bath reached their first European final in 11 years on Saturday with a 39-24 Challenge Cup semifinal win away to a gutsy Edinburgh.
Bath, the runaway English Premiership leaders, lost players to yellow cards in each half and were down 17-12 in the third quarter as Edinburgh threatened an upset.
But in a match being played at the Hive – a venue in the grounds of Murrayfield, Scotland's national stadium, which Russell knows so well from his test career – Bath hit back.
The southwest side's power proved decisive, with all six of their tries scored by forwards and Russell adding three conversions and a penalty.
Bath will now face the winner of Sunday's semifinal between French sides Lyon and Racing 92 in the final of Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 23 May.
.@BathRugby are into the final of the #ChallengeCupRugby!
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 3, 2025
The road to Cardiff is complete for them, and they’re now one win away from lifting the trophy 🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/YKRJXYJE38
Bath took the lead in the 10th minute as Sam Underhill went over from close range, with Russell adding the extras.
But they suffered a setback minutes later when wing Will Muir was sin-binned for a ruck infringement.
Edinburgh made their man advantage count in the 19th minute as Mosese Tuipulotu – an early replacement for the injured Harry Paterson – finished off on the left.
With Muir back on the field, Bath regained the lead in the 31st minute when Tom Dunn scored off a line-out maul.
Ross Thompson's penalty meant Edinburgh turned round just two points behind and they were in front early in the second half following a penalty try where Bath full-back Tom De Glanville was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on as he stopped Wes Goosen's pass, releasing wing Darcy Graham.
But Edinburgh lock Sam Skinner was yellow-carded to even things up, and Bath edged ahead in the 54th minute when Dunn got his second try of the match off a line-out maul, and Russell converted.
Replacement Alfie Barbeary added another try just before the hour and Russell's penalty soon afterwards gave Bath a 10-point lead.
Ali Price pulled a try back for Edinburgh but Bath replacement hooker Niall Annett put the game beyond Edinburgh with a close-range score converted by Russell, before Guy Pepper wrapped things up late on.
