Bath Rugby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bath Rugby

Full name	Bath Rugby
Union	Somerset RFU
Founded	1865; 160 years ago (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
2024–25	1st (Champions)
1st kit 2nd kit European kit
Largest win
Bath 84–7 Sale 1996–97 National Division One
Largest defeat
Gloucester 64–0 Bath (Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester) 30 April 2022
Official website

Bath Rugby is a professional rugby union club located in Bath, Somerset, England. They compete in Premiership Rugby, which is England's top rugby division. The club was started in 1865 as Bath Football Club. Since 1894, they have played their home games at the Recreation Ground in the city centre.

Bath Rugby is one of the most successful rugby clubs in England. They have won 21 major trophies. The team was especially strong between 1984 and 1998. During this time, they won 10 Domestic Cups and 6 of their 7 League titles. In 1998, Bath became the first English team to win the European Cup. They also won the European Challenge Cup in 2008 and 2025. This is Europe's second-tier rugby competition.

Bath is one of only three clubs that have never been moved down from the top division of English rugby. In the 2023–24 season, Bath finished 2nd in the Premiership Rugby. They lost in the play-off final but still qualified for the 2024-25 European Rugby Champions Cup. The current Head of Rugby is Johann van Graan, who began in July 2022. Matches against local teams Bristol Bears and Gloucester are called West Country derbies. Bath also has a long-standing rivalry with Leicester Tigers.

Club History

How Bath Rugby Started (1865–1954)

James Pitman played for Bath in 1920. He later became club president.

Bath Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs around. It was founded in 1865 by members of Lansdown Cricket Club in Bath. They wanted "something to do in the winter." This is why both clubs have the same colours. The team first played at The North Parade Ground. Later, they moved around to different fields like Claverton Down and Henrietta Park.

Eventually, they rented land at Pulteney Meadow, where their current stadium, The Rec, stands. Most early games were against local teams like Weston-super-Mare and Gloucester. By the 1890s, Welsh clubs like Cardiff became regular opponents. In 1907, Bath played its first game against an overseas team, Racing Club de Bordelais from France. In 1954, Bath went on its first overseas tour, beating French teams like St Claude.

Winning Years and Competitions (1954–1995)

The team toured France again the next year, winning more games. Captain Peter Sibley helped develop a fast, attacking rugby style in the 1960s. Players like England international David Gay helped make this style work. Bath continued to build its reputation in the 1970s, beating top Welsh teams.

The club truly changed when coach Jack Rowell arrived in 1978. Rowell helped Bath become a powerful and precise team. When official competitions began in the 1980s, Bath started winning a lot. By 1984, they had won their first of ten knock-out cups. Bath dominated the Anglo-Welsh Cup final, winning it four years in a row from 1984 to 1987. After a small break in 1988, they won it six more times.

The official rugby league structure started in 1987. Bath was very strong in the early years of the first division. They won the league championship six times in just eight years. They also won both the league and cup four times. In 1988–89, Bath won the league title easily. A week later, they beat Leicester 10–6 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final. This made them the first English club to win both the League and Cup in the same season. In 1990, they won their sixth straight Twickenham final, beating Gloucester 48–6. In 1993–94, they won the Anglo Welsh Cup again, beating Leicester.

In May 1996, Bath Rugby and Wigan made history. They played against each other in both rugby codes. The first game was under League rules, where Bath lost 82–6. In the return game under Union rules, Bath won 44–19.

The Professional Era (1995–2021)

Bath playing against Bristol in 2005.

After Jack Rowell left in 1995 and rugby union became a professional sport in 1996, Bath struggled to find consistent success. There were many changes in coaches and players. However, Bath still became the first British club to win the European Cup in the 1997–1998 season. Bath beat French club Brive 19–18 in an exciting final in Bordeaux. Jon Callard scored all of Bath's points.

Despite this European win, Bath finished sixth in the league the next season. In the 2002–03 season, they almost got moved down to a lower league, avoiding it by just one point on the last day. After this close call, the club invested a lot in its team. In 2003–04, Bath finished at the top of the regular season table. However, they lost in the play-off final at Twickenham. In 2004–05, Bath finished 4th and reached the RFU Cup final, but lost to Leeds.

Byron Kelleher and Michael Claassens during a game in 2008.

In 2006, Bath defeated Leicester Tigers in the quarter-finals. They then lost in the semi-finals against Biarritz. Because they finished 9th in the league that year, Bath played in the European Challenge Cup, which is the second level of European rugby. Steve Meehan became the new head coach in the summer of 2006.

Bath playing against Montpellier at The Rec in 2011.

In 2008, Bath won their first trophy in ten years, beating Worcester in the European Challenge Cup. On April 14, 2010, British businessman Bruce Craig bought the club. He made new plans for the club's future. These included a new club headquarters at Farleigh House and plans for a new 20,000-seat stadium.

Mike Ford became the club's head coach in May 2013. Ford led Bath to the 2014–15 Premiership Final, where they lost to Saracens. Mike Ford won the Aviva Premiership Director of Rugby of the Year award in 2015. His son, George Ford, won Player of the Year. However, after a disappointing season where Bath finished 9th, Mike Ford left the club at the end of the 2015–2016 season.

Recent Years and Comeback (2021–Present)

The 2021–22 season was Bath's toughest ever. In October 2021, they lost 71–17 at home to Saracens. This was the most points they had ever given up in a Premiership match. They finished last in the Premiership for the first time. They also had their biggest ever loss, 64–0, against rivals Gloucester.

Before the 2022–23 season, South African coach Johann van Graan joined Bath. Van Graan said Bath was "broken as a club" when he arrived. But he successfully turned the team around in his first season. The team improved a lot and ended the season with a 61–29 win over Saracens. This win helped them finish eighth in the table, just ahead of rivals Bristol Bears. This also earned them a spot in the 2023–24 Champions Cup.

Bath finished the 2023–2024 regular season in 2nd place. This was their highest finish since 2015. After beating Sale Sharks in the semi-final, Bath played against Northampton Saints in the Premiership Final. Bath lost a close game 25–21.

In December 2024, Bath defeated Saracens 68–10. This was Saracens' worst defeat in Premiership history. That same month, owner Bruce Craig submitted plans for a new 18,000-seat stadium. In April 2025, Bath secured the top spot in the regular season for the first time since the 2003–04 season. They did this after a 55–19 victory over Newcastle Falcons.

After a tough Champions Cup season, Bath qualified for the Challenge Cup. They won away against Pau, then beat Gloucester at home in the quarter-final. They also won against Edinburgh away in the semi-final. Bath defeated Lyon 37–12 in the final to win the Challenge Cup for the second time. In June 2025, they beat Bristol Bears 34–20 at home to reach the Premiership final for the second year in a row. In the final, Bath defeated Leicester Tigers 23–21. This gave them their first league title in 29 years. This was part of a historic "treble" for the season, as they had also won the Premiership Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup. A victory parade was held the next day, with thousands of fans celebrating. Players rode on open-top buses through Bath, ending at The Recreation Ground for a party.

The Home Stadium

Playing at The Recreation Ground

The Recreation Ground, Bath's home stadium.

Bath plays at the Recreation Ground, often called "The Rec." This stadium is in the city centre, right next to the River Avon. For the 2009–10 season, the stadium's capacity was increased to 11,700. Bath plays all its home matches there during the rugby season. In the summer, the ground is changed to host cricket matches. This cricket field is used for local games.

In November 2009, the new chief executive, Nick Blofeld, said the club wanted a mostly seated stadium for 20,000 people. This new stadium would have restaurants, cafes, and other facilities. The issue of the Rec's charitable status has made progress difficult. However, in 2013, a plan was suggested to allow the club to use more land at the Rec.

A view of the South Stand hospitality boxes.

A decision limited the land available to the club. This meant the club's plans for a new stadium had to be paused. So, the club applied to temporarily increase its capacity to 14,000 for two seasons. This was to celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2015. After getting approval, the club increased capacity by 1,000 for the 2016/17 season, making it 14,500.

During the 2016 off-season, the West Stand was partly rebuilt. This added better facilities like bars, food outlets, and toilets. These temporary changes were approved for four years. This allowed Bath to focus on a permanent stadium solution. A new decision in December 2016 helped clear the way for redevelopment at The Rec.

Games at Twickenham Stadium

The Bath Rugby club shop, near Pultney Bridge in Bath city centre.

Between the 2016–17 and 2018–19 seasons, Bath Rugby played one home game each year at Twickenham Stadium. This game, called The Clash, usually happened around Easter. It was part of a five-year agreement to host games at Twickenham. The 2017 match had 61,868 fans, and the 2018 match had 60,880 fans.

Team Kit

From 2020 to 2023, the team's kit was made by Macron. The main sponsor, Dyson, was on the front of the shirt. Other sponsors like Compeed, Thatchers, and Avon Protection were also on the kit. Castore became the new kit supplier starting from the 2023–24 season.

Season Results Overview

This section shows how Bath Rugby has performed in different competitions over the years.

Key

Club Honours

Here are the major trophies Bath Rugby has won:

Team Players

Ben Spencer has been the team captain since 2022.

This section lists the players for the Bath Rugby squad for the 2025–26 season.

Senior Squad Players

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Tom Dunn Hooker England Dan Frost Hooker England Max Pearce Hooker England Jasper Sandler Hooker England Archie Griffin Prop Wales Beno Obano Prop England Scott Kirk Prop England Billy Sela Prop England Will Stuart Prop England Thomas du Toit Prop South Africa Francois van Wyk Prop South Africa Harvey Cuckson Lock England Charlie Ewels Lock England Ross Molony Lock Ireland Ewan Richards Lock England Quinn Roux Lock Ireland Alfie Barbeary Back row England Josh Bayliss Back row Scotland Jaco Coetzee Back row South Africa Tom Cowan Back row Wales Ted Hill Back row England Guy Pepper Back row England Miles Reid Back row England Ethan Staddon Back row England Sam Underhill Back row England

Player Position Union Tom Carr-Smith Scrum-half England Neil le Roux Scrum-half South Africa Ben Spencer Scrum-half England Bernard van der Linde Scrum-half South Africa Ciaran Donoghue Fly-half England Sam Harris Fly-half England Finn Russell Fly-half Scotland Will Butt Centre England Chris Harris Centre Scotland Louie Hennessey Centre Wales Ollie Lawrence Centre England Max Ojomoh Centre England Cameron Redpath Centre Scotland Henry Arundell Wing England Joe Cokanasiga Wing England Austin Emens Wing England Will Muir Wing England Santiago Carreras Fullback Argentina Tom de Glanville Fullback England

Senior Academy Players

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Oscar Thomas Hooker England Kepu Tuipulotu Hooker England Ioan Emanuel Prop Wales Mikey Summerfield Prop England Jack Bennett Lock England Will Jeanes Lock England Alex Ridgway Back row Wales George Timmins Back row England Connor Treacey Back row England

Player Position Union Ieuan Davies Scrum-half Wales James Linegar Fly-half England Jack Harrison Fly-half Wales Charlie Griffin Wing England Tyler Offiah Wing England Jack Woods Fullback Wales Sam Winters Fullback England

Players in the Rugby World Cup

These players represented their countries at the Rugby World Cup while 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 an entire season.

• 2022– 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

British and Irish Lions Players

These players represented the British and Irish Lions while playing for Bath. The Lions is a special team made up of the best players from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Tour	Players selected	England players
1904 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand	1	Ron Rogers
1989 British Lions tour to Australia	3	Gareth Chilcott, Jeremy Guscott, Andy Robinson
1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand	4	Stuart Barnes, Jeremy Guscott, Andy Reed, Ben Clarke
1997 British Lions tour to South Africa	3	Mike Catt, Jeremy Guscott, Nigel Redman
2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia	3	Iain Balshaw, Matt Perry, Mike Catt
2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand	2	Danny Grewcock, Matt Stevens
2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa	1	Lee Mears
2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand	3	Taulupe Faletau, Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson
2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa	2	Taulupe Faletau, Anthony Watson
2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia	2	Finn Russell, Will Stuart

Team Management

This table shows the main people who manage the Bath Rugby team.

Position	Name
Head of Rugby	Johann van Graan
Defence Coach	JP Ferreira
Attack Coach	Lee Blackett
Forwards Coach	Richard Blaze
Scrum Coach	Stevie Scott
Contact Coach and Head Academy Coach	Andy Robinson
Head of academy	Craig Lilley

See also

In Spanish: Bath Rugby para niños