Banahan is determined to start the season in top form © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Matt Banahan

Teams: Bath Rugby | Gloucester Rugby

Bath's Matt Banahan is determined to gain revenge over old rivals Gloucester in the final of the JP Morgan Asset Management 7s Series next week.

Bath reached the finals, which will be played on their own turf at the Rec next Friday, after finishing second in Thursday night's event at Kingsholm. They beat Exeter Chiefs and Worcester Warriors but lost 24-17 in the final match of the night to Gloucester, who topped the table.

Banahan was satisfied to reach the finals evening at the Rec and admitted there is huge desire in the Bath squad to overhaul their rivals at their home ground. He said: "When you're working hard you see outcomes. We worked hard going into the evening and with a very young team the outcome we've got is getting to the final, and that's fantastic.

"Now we've got a few more days to look forward to getting out there in the final. It's massive given its on home soil and will also be the chance to get one back on Gloucester."

As well as taking the tournament as an opportunity to win silverware in its own right, Banahan also hopes appearing in the pre-season sevens tournament will allow him to hit the season running and ultimately force his way back into the England reckoning having dropped out of the selection picture following last year's World Cup.

Banahan said: "My lungs felt alright - I was cramping a bit because it's always hard, playing a hard game for 14 minutes - we actually played two games back to back, resting for an hour then playing again.

"I just want to be playing well for Bath; obviously hopefully this will help me get a role in the starting 15 for England again."