Bath Rugby facts for kids
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| Full name | Bath Rugby | |||
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| Union | Somerset RFU | |||
| Founded | 1865 | |||
| Location | Bath, Somerset, England | |||
| Ground(s) | The Recreation Ground (Capacity: 14,509) | |||
| Director of Rugby | Johann van Graan | |||
| Captain(s) | Ben Spencer | |||
| Most appearances | Phil Hall (580) | |||
| Top scorer | Jon Callard (2,087) | |||
| Most tries | Tony Swift (161) | |||
| League(s) | Premiership Rugby | |||
| 2023–24 | 2nd | |||
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| Largest win | ||||
| Bath 84–7 Sale 1996–97 National Division One |
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| Largest defeat | ||||
| Gloucester 64–0 Bath (Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester) 30 April 2022 |
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| Official website | ||||
Bath Rugby is a professional rugby union club from Bath, Somerset, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, which is England's top rugby league. The club was started in 1865 as Bath Football Club. Since 1894, they have played their games at the Recreation Ground in the city center.
Bath Rugby is one of the most successful clubs in England. They have won 18 big trophies! They were especially strong between 1984 and 1998. During this time, they won 10 Domestic Cups and 6 League titles. In 1998, they became the first English team to win the European Cup. In 2008, Bath also won the European Challenge Cup. This is the second-highest competition in Europe.
Bath is one of only three clubs that has never been moved down from England's top rugby league. In the 2023–24 Premiership Rugby season, Bath finished 2nd. They lost in the play-off final, but this means they will play in the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup. The team's current Head of Rugby is Johann van Graan, who started in July 2022. Games against local teams like Bristol Bears and Gloucester are called "West Country derbies". Bath also has a long-standing rivalry with Leicester Tigers.
Contents
Club History
How Bath Rugby Started (1865–1954)
Bath Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs around. It was started in 1865 by members of the Lansdown Cricket Club. They wanted "something to do in the winter" when cricket wasn't being played. This is why both clubs have the same colors.
The team first played at The North Parade Ground. Then, they moved around to different places in the 1800s. They played at Claverton Down, Lambridge Meadows, Taylor's Field, and Henrietta Park. Later, they rented land at Pulteney Meadow, where their current stadium stands. Most of their early games were against local teams like Weston-super-Mare and Gloucester.
By the 1890s, teams from Wales started playing against Bath regularly. In 1907, Bath played its first game against a team from another country. Racing Club de Bordelais from France came to play at the Rec. In 1954, Bath went on its first overseas tour. They beat the French team St Claude.
Winning Many Trophies (1954–1995)
Bath went on another tour to France the next year and won more games. Captain Peter Sibley helped the team play a fast, attacking style of rugby in the 1960s. With strong players like David Gay, Bath became known for its exciting play.
The club really changed when coach Jack Rowell joined in 1978. When official competitions started in the 1980s, Jack Rowell built a powerful and precise team. Players like Gareth Chilcott and Roger Spurrell brought strength. John Horton and winger David Trick added skill.
By 1984, Bath won the first of ten cup titles. They beat Bristol in the final. Bath was very strong in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final. They won it four years in a row from 1984 to 1987. After a small break in 1988, they won it six more times.
When the official rugby league started in 1987, Bath was the best team. They won the league championship six times in just eight years! They also won both the league and the cup four times. In the 1988–89 season, Bath won the league easily. A week later, they beat Leicester to win the cup. This made them the first English club to win both the league and cup in the same year. In 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan played two special games. They played one game using rugby league rules and another using rugby union rules.
The Professional Rugby Era (1995–Present)
After Jack Rowell left in 1995, and rugby union became a professional sport in 1996, Bath had some challenges. They changed coaches often and had many new players. But Bath still made history by being the first British club to win the European Cup in the 1997–1998 season. They beat the French club Brive 19–18 in a thrilling final.
In the 2002–03 season, Bath almost got moved down to a lower league. They avoided it by just one point on the last day! After this, the club spent a lot of money on new players. In the 2003–04 season, they finished at the top of the league. However, they lost in the play-off final. In 2005, they reached the RFU Cup final but lost.
In 2008, Bath won their first trophy in ten years. They beat Worcester in the European Challenge Cup. In 2010, Bath Rugby got new owners. They planned to build a new club headquarters and a new stadium.
Mike Ford became the head coach in 2013. He led Bath to the 2015 Premiership Final, where they lost. Mike Ford won the Director of Rugby of the Year award in 2015. His son, George Ford, won Player of the Year. But after a tough season in 2015–2016, Mike Ford left the club.
The 2021–22 season was Bath's toughest ever. They finished last in the Premiership for the first time. They also had their biggest loss ever against Gloucester. Before the 2022–23 season, South African coach Johann van Graan joined Bath. He helped turn the team around. They improved a lot and finished 8th, which earned them a spot in the 2023–24 Champions Cup.
In the 2023–2024 season, Bath finished 2nd. This was their best finish since 2015. They beat Sale Sharks in the semi-final. Then, they played against Northampton Saints in the Premiership Final. Bath lost a very close game, 25–21.
Home Stadium
The Recreation Ground
Bath plays at the Recreation Ground, also called "The Rec". This stadium is in the middle of the city, right next to the River Avon. For the 2009–10 season, the stadium could hold 11,700 people. Bath plays all its home games there during the rugby season. In the summer, the ground is changed so it can host cricket matches.
In 2009, the club's new chief executive said they wanted a mostly seated stadium for 20,000 people. This new stadium would have restaurants, cafes, and other facilities. There have been some challenges with building a new stadium because of the land's special status. However, the club has been working to get permission for a new stadium.
In 2015, the club got permission to temporarily increase the stadium's capacity to 14,000. This was for their 150th anniversary. After more successful applications, the capacity increased to 14,500 for the 2016–17 season. During the 2016 off-season, parts of the West Stand were rebuilt. This added better facilities like bars, food places, and toilets. These changes help Bath focus on building a permanent stadium in the future.
Twickenham Stadium Matches
Between the 2016–17 and 2018–19 seasons, Bath Rugby played one home game each year at Twickenham Stadium. This game was called The Clash. It usually happened around Easter. Many fans came to these games. For example, 61,868 people watched the 2017 match.
Team Kit
From 2020 to 2023, the team's kit (uniform) was made by Macron. The company Dyson was featured on the front of the shirt. Other sponsors like Compeed, Thatchers, Avon Protection, and Grant UK were also on the kit. On the shorts, Dyson, Bendac Group, and Your Red Car were shown. Since the 2023–24 season, Castore has been the kit supplier.
Season Results
Key
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| Winners | Runners-up |
| League | Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | Pts | Pos | Domestic Cup | Champions Cup |
| 1987–88 | Div 1 | 30 | 4th | QF | – |
| 1988–89 | Div 1 | 20 | 1st | Champions | |
| 1989–90 | Div 1 | 16 | 3rd | Champions | |
| 1990–91 | Div 1 | 22 | 1st | R3 | |
| 1991–92 | Div 1 | 21 | 1st | Champions | |
| 1992–93 | Div 1 | 22 | 1st | R3 | |
| 1993–94 | Div 1 | 31 | 1st | Champions | |
| 1994–95 | Div 1 | 27 | 2nd | Champions | |
| 1995–96 | Div 1 | 31 | 1st | Champions | |
| 1996–97 | Prem | 31 | 2nd | R5 | QF |
| 1997–98 | Prem | 26 | 3rd | R5 | Champions |
| 1998–99 | Prem | 30 | 6th | R4 | – |
| 1999–00 | Prem | 43 | 2nd | R4 | PS |
| 2000–01 | Prem | 70 | 3rd | R4 | PS |
| 2001–02 | Prem | 33 | 11th | R6 | QF |
| 2002–03 | Prem | 36 | 11th | QF | – |
| 2003–04 | Prem | 79 | 1st | QF | SF |
| 2004–05 | Prem | 58 | 4th | RU | PS |
| 2005–06 | Prem | 46 | 9th | SF | SF |
| 2006–07 | Prem | 45 | 8th | R4 | – |
| 2007–08 | Prem | 69 | 3rd | R4 | |
| 2008–09 | Prem | 65 | 4th | R1 | QF |
| 2009–10 | Prem | 61 | 4th | R1 | PS |
| 2010–11 | Prem | 62 | 5th | R1 | PS |
| 2011–12 | Prem | 44 | 8th | SF | PS |
| 2012–13 | Prem | 53 | 7th | SF | QF |
| 2013–14 | Prem | 67 | 5th | SF | – |
| 2014–15 | Prem | 75 | 2nd | PS | QF |
| 2015–16 | Prem | 48 | 9th | – | PS |
| 2016–17 | Prem | 59 | 5th | R1 | SF |
| 2017–18 | Prem | 56 | 6th | RU | PS |
| 2018–19 | Prem | 56 | 6th | R1 | PS |
| 2019–20 | Prem | 67 | 4th | R1 | PS |
| 2020–21 | Prem | 52 | 7th | – | – |
| 2021–22 | Prem | 34 | 13th | PS | |
| 2022–23 | Prem | 47 | 8th | PS | |
| 2023–24 | Prem | 60 | 2nd | PS | R16 |
Club Honours
| Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Premiership Rugby | 6 | 1988–89, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96 |
| Premiership Rugby Cup | 10 | 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 |
| European Champions Cup | 1 | 1997–98 |
| European Challenge Cup | 1 | 2007–08 |
Team Players
Current Squad
The Bath Rugby squad for the 2024–25 season includes these players:
Senior Squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
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Senior Academy
These are players in the Senior Academy:
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
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Rugby World Cup Players
The following players have played for their countries in the Rugby World Cup while also playing for Bath. Players in bold won the tournament.
| Tournament | Players selected | England players | Other national team players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 6 | Gareth Chilcott, Graham Dawe, David Egerton, Jon Hall, Nigel Redman, Richard Hill | |
| 1991 | 4 | Nigel Redman, Richard Hill, Jeremy Guscott, Jonathan Webb | |
| 1995 | 12 | Ben Clarke, Graham Dawe, Jeremy Guscott, John Mallett, Jonathan Callard, Phil de Glanville, Mike Catt, Steve Ojomoh, Victor Ubogu | Simon Geoghegan  , Dave Hilton, Eric Peters  |
| 1999 | 7 | Victor Ubogu, Phil de Glanville, Jeremy Guscott, Mike Catt, Matt Perry | Kevin Maggs , Dan Lyle  |
| 2003 | 6 | Iain Balshaw, Mike Tindall, Mike Catt, Danny Grewcock | Kevin Maggs , Simon Danielli |
| 2007 | 6 | Lee Mears, Matt Stevens, Steve Borthwick, Olly Barkley, Nick Abendanon | Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu  |
| 2011 | 7 | David Wilson, Lee Mears, Lewis Moody, Matt Banahan | Chris Biller , Anthony Perenise , Francois Louw  |
| 2015 | 12 | Rob Webber, David Wilson, George Ford, Sam Burgess, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson | Nikola Matawalu  , Dominic Day, Rhys Priestland  , Alafoti Faosiliva , Francois Louw , Horacio Agulla  |
| 2019 | 6 | Sam Underhill, Jonathan Joseph, Joe Cokanasiga, Ruaridh McConnochie, Anthony Watson | Francois Louw |
| 2023 | 5 | Ollie Lawrence, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill | Cameron Redpath, Finn Russell |
Past Team Captains
This list shows players who were captain for a whole season.
- 2022–24
Ben Spencer - 2019–22 Charlie Ewels
- 2017–19 Matt Garvey
- 2016–17 Guy Mercer
- 2011–16 Stuart Hooper
- 2010–11 Luke Watson
- 2009–10 Michael Claassens
- 2008–09 Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett
- 2005–08 Steve Borthwick
- 2003–05 Jonathan Humphreys
- 2002–03 Danny Grewcock
- 2001–02 Dan Lyle
Team Management
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head of Rugby | Johann van Graan |
| Defence Coach | JP Ferreira |
| Assistant Coach | Lee Blackett |
| Assistant Coach | Richard Blaze |
| Scrum Coach | Stevie Scott |
| Skills Coach | Ryan Davis |
| Head Academy Coach | Andy Robinson |
| Academy Manager | Craig Lilley |
See also
In Spanish: Bath Rugby para niños
