View source for Bath Rugby

{{short description|English rugby union football club}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname       = Bath Rugby
| image          = Bath Rugby logo.png
| imagesize      = 0.8
| union          = [[Somerset Rugby Football Union|Somerset RFU]]
| fullname       = Bath Rugby
| nickname       = 
| location       = [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], [[Somerset]], [[England]]
| region         = 
| founded        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1865}}
| ground         = [[Recreation Ground, Bath|The Recreation Ground]]
| capacity       = 14,509
| chairman       =
| rugby director = [[Johann van Graan]]
| captain        = [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer]]
| appearances          = Phil Hall (580)
| top scorer     = [[Jon Callard]] (2,087)
| most tries     = [[Tony Swift]] (161)
| league         = [[Premiership Rugby]]
| season         = [[2024–25 Premiership Rugby|2024–25]]
| position       = 1st (Champions)
| url            = https://www.bathrugby.com/
| pattern_la1    = _Bathleft16
| pattern_b1     = _Bathkit16
| pattern_ra1    = _Bathright16
| pattern_sh1    = _whitesides
| pattern_so1    = _Bathsocks16
| leftarm1       = 000000
| body1          = 000000
| rightarm1      = 000000
| shorts1        = 000000
| socks1         = 000000
<!-- away kit --->
| pattern_la2    = _blueborder 
| pattern_b2     = _bluecollar
| pattern_ra2    = _blueborder
| pattern_sh2    = _goldsides 
| pattern_so2    = _blue_top 
| leftarm2       = FFD700
| body2          = FFD700
| rightarm2      = FFD700
| shorts2        = 0033CC
| socks2         = FFD700
<!-- away kit --->
| pattern_la3    = _blueborder 
| pattern_b3     = _bluecollar
| pattern_ra3    = _blueborder
| pattern_sh3    = _bluesides 
| pattern_so3    =  
| leftarm3       = FF0000
| body3          = FF0000
| rightarm3      = FF0000
| shorts3        = FF0000
| socks3         = FF0000
| pattern_name3 = European
| bigwin = '''Bath''' 84–7 [[Sale Sharks|Sale]]<br />''[[1996–97 National Division One]]''<ref name="Big Win/Loss">{{cite web |title=Bath Rugby - Statistics |url=https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/teams/bath/stats.html |website=Its Rugby|access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>
| bigloss = [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] 64–0 '''Bath'''<br />([[Kingsholm Stadium]], [[Gloucester]])<br />''[[2021–22 Premiership Rugby#Round 24|30 April 2022]]''<ref name="Big Win/Loss"/>
}}

'''Bath Rugby''' is a professional [[rugby union]] club in [[Bath, Somerset]], [[England]]. They play in the [[Premiership Rugby|Gallagher PREM]], England's top division of rugby. Founded in 1865 as Bath Football Club, since 1894 the club has played at the [[Recreation Ground, Bath|Recreation Ground]] in the city centre.

Bath Rugby is the joint-most successful club in England, having won 21 major trophies. It was particularly successful between 1984 and 1998, when it won 10 [[Premiership Rugby Cup|Domestic Cups]], 6 of its 7 [[Premiership Rugby|League titles]], and became the first English side to win the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Cup]] in [[1998 Heineken Cup final|1998]]. In [[2007–08 European Challenge Cup|2008]] and [[2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup|2025]], Bath also won the [[EPCR Challenge Cup|European Challenge Cup]], the continent's second-tier competition.

Bath is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the top division of English rugby. They are the reigning champions of England, finishing 1st in the [[2024–25 Premiership Rugby]] season and winning the play off final. This entitles them to play in the [[2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage|2025-26 European Rugby Champions Cup]]. The current Head of Rugby is [[Johann van Graan]], who started in July 2022. Matches with local rivals [[Bristol Bears]] and [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] are referred to as [[West Country derby|West Country derbies]]. Bath also have a longstanding rivalry with [[Leicester Tigers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The rivalry continues {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/content/the-rivalry-continues |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=www.bathrugby.com |language=en |archive-date=21 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221121228/https://www.bathrugby.com/content/the-rivalry-continues |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
===Formation and the early years (1865–1954)===
[[File:James Pitman Bath Rugby.png|left|thumb|Former player and president, James Pitman for Bath in 1920]]
Bath Football Club is one of the oldest rugby clubs in existence, having been founded in 1865 by members of [[Lansdown Cricket Club]] in Bath, for 'something to do in the winter'.<ref>The Lansdown Story, 1975</ref> This is the reason why the club colours of the two clubs are identical. With an original home base at [[Bath Cricket Club Ground|The North Parade Ground]], in Bathwick, The team then led a nomadic existence during the 1800s playing at Claverton Down, Lambridge Meadows, Taylor's Field and Henrietta Park. They then leased a plot of land at Pulteney Meadow, where today's Rec stands, with most games played against local opposition: [[Weston-super-Mare]], [[Gloucester RFC|Gloucester]], [[Clifton Rugby Football Club|Clifton]] and the "Arabs" from [[Bristol]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The history of Bath Rugby Club |url=https://www.centurion-rugby.com/blogs/rugby/80335489-the-history-of-bath-rugby-club |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Centurion Rugby |language=en}}</ref>

By the 1890s, [[Wales|Welsh]] clubs were starting to become regular opponents, with [[Cardiff RFC|Cardiff]] and [[Penarth RFC|Penarth]] regularly appearing in the fixture list. With a traditionally lightweight pack, they would suffer regular defeats. The club played its first fixture against overseas opposition in 1907, as Racing Club de Bordelais crossed the Channel to play at the Rec. 1954 saw a first overseas tour by Bath, who beat the French teams St Claude (23–3).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bath Rugby Visual Timeline {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/club/visual-timeline |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503120140/https://www.bathrugby.com/club/visual-timeline |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Competitive competitions and the glory years (1954–1995)===
The trip was repeated the following year with wins against St Claude (13–8), Dijon (14–0) and Macon (8–3) as captain Peter Sibley was the first to develop the ethos for fast, attacking rugby in the Sixties. With six-foot four-inch players such as England international back row [[David Gay (rugby union)|David Gay]], Peter Heindorff, Sibley had players with physique to impose this style of play. The side continued to develop Bath's reputation in the early Seventies with wins over the top Welsh sides. However, the revolution began with the arrival of coach [[Jack Rowell]] in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rowell Jack |url=https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/coaches/president-bath-rfc-2007-2009-mr-jack-rowell |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby Heritage |language=en}}</ref>

Rowell transformed the ethos of a club that had traditionally drawn local players. When formalised competitions started in the 1980s [[Jack Rowell]] brought premature professionalism to Bath and began to assemble a side with power and precision. The power, provided by [[Gareth Chilcott]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bath Rugby - Gareth Chilcott - Tales from the Legends {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/club/gareth-chilcott-tales-from-the-legends |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en}}</ref> and the precision of Roger Spurrell,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spurrell Roger |url=https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/player-profiles/spurrell-roger-3 |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby Heritage |language=en}}</ref> was complemented by the quality of John Horton and winger [[David Trick (rugby union)|David Trick]]. By 1984, the first of ten knock-out cup successes had been achieved, at the expense of Bristol. Bath dominated the [[Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo-Welsh Cup final]] winning it four years on a trot, from 1984 to 1987. Bath, after a blip in 1988, dominated, winning it a further six times.

The formalised rugby structure was formed in 1987, and Bath dominated the early years of the first division, being crowned league champions six times in just eight years and doing the "double" four times. Bath were an unstoppable force in 1988–89 and ran away with the league title, winning the first ten of their eleven league matches. A week later, in the [[1988–89 Pilkington Cup|Anglo-Welsh Cup final]] at Twickenham, Bath beat Leicester 10–6 to become the first English club to do the double of winning both League and Cup. 1990 saw the last of six consecutive Twickenham final wins, with the club defeating [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] 48–6. 1993–94 saw the team win the Anglo Welsh Cup, beating Leicester. In May 1996, Bath Rugby and [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] made history by [[Clash of the Codes (rugby)|playing against each other at both codes]]. The first match was at [[Maine Road]], [[Manchester]] under League rules and saw Bath struggle, eventually losing 82–6. In the return fixture under Union rules at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], Bath were able to regain a measure of pride by beating Wigan 44–19.

===Early Professional era (1995–2021)===
[[File:Bath Rugby v Bristol Rugby 6.jpg|thumb|Bath verus Bristol in 2005]]
[[Jack Rowell]]'s departure in 1995 and rugby union becoming a professional sport in 1996 had seen Bath struggle to find consistency either on or off the field. With regular changes in the coaching staff and a steady turnaround of players, the formula that led to past successes was still being sought, albeit Bath still managed to be the first British club to lift the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Cup]] in the 1997–1998 season. Bath beat French club [[CA Brive|Brive]] 19–18 in an exciting final in [[Bordeaux]] with [[Jon Callard]] scoring all the points for Bath. Off the field, the official supporters' club of Bath Rugby was formed in January 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://allez-bath.co.uk/ |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Bath Rugby Supporters' Club |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302042815/https://allez-bath.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite European glory, Bath slumped to sixth in the league the next season. In the disastrous league campaign of 2002–03, relegation was avoided by only a single point on the last day. Having narrowly avoided relegation and merger with rivals [[Bristol Bears|Bristol]] in the 2002–03 season, the club invested heavily in its squad, the team ended the regular season at the top of the table six points, but lost in the play-off final match at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]]. Bath finished 4th in the 2004–05 season and also reached the [[RFU Knockout Cup|RFU Cup]] final, though lost to [[Leeds Tykes|Leeds]] at Twickenham after a poor display. By the end of the 2004–05 season, coach John Connolly had announced his intention to return to his native Australia, having created one of the most dominant packs in club rugby.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connolly John |url=https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/coaches/connolly-john |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby Heritage |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Bath Rugby v Stade toulousain Collapsed scrum Heineken Cup.jpg|left|thumb|[[Byron Kelleher]] and [[Michael Claassens]] in 2008]]
In 2006 they defeated Leicester Tigers in the quarter finals at a sold out Walkers' Stadium in Leicester, Bath then went on to lose the semi-finals against Biarritz. As they finished 9th in the league that year, Bath were ineligible for the 2006–07 competition, instead contesting in the European Challenge Cup, the second level of European rugby. Steve Meehan was appointed the new acting head coach in the summer of 2006.<ref name="coach">{{cite news | title=Bath promote Meehan to head coach | work=[[BBC]] | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/5237610.stm |access-date=31 August 2006 | date=2 August 2006}}</ref>
[[File:Bath Montpellier Rugby.jpg|thumb|Bath versus [[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]] at the Rec in 2011]]
In 2008 Bath won their first trophy in ten years, beating Worcester in the [[EPCR Challenge Cup|European Challenge Cup]]. On 14 April 2010, British businessman [[Bruce Craig]] bought the club from chairman Andrew Brownsword and set out new plans for the future of the club, including a proposal to create a new club headquarters at [[Farleigh House]] and plans to create a new 20,000 seater stadium.<ref>{{cite web |title=This article is more than 14 years old Bath under new ownership as Bruce Craig completes purchase of club |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/14/bath-bruce-craig-owner |work=The Guardian |access-date=12 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Protected Blog › Log in |url=https://intosomerset.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/bath-rugby-frome-farleigh-house-somerset |access-date=27 August 2019 |website=IntoSomerset}}</ref><ref name="thisisbath1">{{cite web |title=Bath Rugby to move to new headquarters at Farleigh Hungerford |url=http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Bath-Rugby-set-new-headquarters/article-2017323-detail/article.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417094523/http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Bath-Rugby-set-new-headquarters/article-2017323-detail/article.html |archive-date=17 April 2010 |website=This is Bath}}</ref>

[[Mike Ford (rugby)|Mike Ford]] became the club's head coach in May 2013. Ford guided Bath to the 2014–15 Premiership Final, where they lost to [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]]. Ford was awarded the Aviva Premiership Director of Rugby of the Year award in 2015 while his son, [[George Ford (rugby union)|George Ford]], won Player of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards|url=http://www.gettyimages.com/event/aviva-premiership-rugby-awards-552998635?#mike-ford-of-bath-poses-with-the-guinness-director-of-rugby-of-the-picture-id474141114|website=Getty Images|access-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> However, after a disappointing campaign that saw Bath finish 9th in the table, Mike Ford left the club at the end of the 2015–2016 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/club-news/mike-ford-leaves-bath-rugby/|title=Mike Ford leaves Bath Rugby|website=Bath Rugby|language=en|access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

===Decline & Resurgence (2021–)===
The 2021–22 season was Bath's worst ever campaign. In October 2021, they conceded the most points of any Premiership match in their history losing 71–17 at home to [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Premiership: Bath 17-71 Saracens - Visitors score 10 tries in huge victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58886299 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=28 December 2024 |archive-date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228150626/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58886299 |url-status=live }}</ref> They finished bottom of the Premiership for the first time in their history, and suffered their greatest ever defeat, against rivals, Gloucester, losing 64–0 at [[Kingsholm]]. Ahead of the 2022–23 season, South African coach [[Johann van Graan]] joined Bath. Van Graan described Bath as being “broken as a club” when he arrived,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ollis-Brown |first=Henry |date=2024-11-16 |title=Johann van Graan identifies the key skill that turned 'broken' Bath into Premiership contenders |url=https://tbrrugby.com/news/johann-van-graan-identifies-the-key-skill-that-turned-broken-bath-into-premiership-contenders/ |access-date=2024-12-27 |website=TBR Rugby |language=en-GB |archive-date=27 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227041558/https://tbrrugby.com/news/johann-van-graan-identifies-the-key-skill-that-turned-broken-bath-into-premiership-contenders/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but he successfully turned the team around in his first season in charge. The team's improvement in form over the course of the campaign culminated with a 61–29 win over [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] on the final day, which saw them edge neighbours and rivals [[Bristol Bears]] for eighth in the table and a place in the 2023–24 Champions Cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67076489|title=New Premiership season: How Johann van Graan has rebuilt Bath over past 18 months|date=13 October 2023|work=BBC|access-date=21 April 2024|archive-date=21 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421004054/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67076489|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bath finished the [[2023–24 Premiership Rugby|2023/2024]] regular season in 2nd place, their highest finish since 2015. After defeating [[Sale Sharks]] in the semi-final, Bath competed against [[Northampton Saints]] in the Premiership Final, where Bath suffered a narrow 25–21 defeat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/08/premiership-final-northampton-bath-rugby-union|title=
Alex Mitchell try earns Northampton title as 14-man Bath are denied|date=8 June 2024|work=The Guardian|access-date=10 June 2024}}</ref>

In December 2024, Bath defeated [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] 68–10 to inflict them with their worst defeat in [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ten-try Bath thrash 14-man Saracens for record win |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c1d3zwv9qqno |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=28 December 2024}}</ref> That same month, owner Bruce Craig submitted a planning application for a new 18,000 capacity stadium.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top-flight rugby club submits amended stadium plans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgrkyw088qo |publisher=BBC |access-date=12 February 2025 |archive-date=12 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212125009/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgrkyw088qo |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2025, after a 55–19 victory over [[Newcastle Falcons]], they secured top spot in the regular season for the first time since the [[2003–04 Premiership Rugby|2003–04 season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bath thump Newcastle to seal top spot and home semi |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c209zv70yw5o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> After a disappointing Champions Cup campaign, in which they finished fifth out of six in their pool, Bath qualified for an away Round of 16 fixture in the [[2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]. They defeated [[Section Paloise|Pau]] away from home, then beat [[Gloucester Rugby|Gloucester]] at home in the quarter-final and [[Edinburgh Rugby|Edinburgh]] away in the semi-final. Bath defeated [[Lyon OU Rugby|Lyon]] 37–12 in the final to win the Challenge Cup for the second time in their history.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Charlie |last2=Crichard |first2=Kieran |date=2025-05-23 |title=Ben Spencer leads Bath to second leg of treble |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2025/05/23/bath-v-lyon-live-european-rugby-challenge-cup-final/ |access-date=2025-05-24 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>  In June 2025, they defeated Bristol Bears 34–20 at home to advance to the Premiership final for the second year in a row. In the final, Bath defeated Leicester Tigers 23–21 to claim their first league title in 29 years. This was the third leg of a historic treble, having already won the Premiership Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup that season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurcom |first1=Sophie |title=Bath end 29-year wait for Premiership title |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cq69edr9r71o |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=14 June 2025 |archive-date=15 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250615013418/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cq69edr9r71o |url-status=live }}</ref> A victory parade was organised for the following day, attracting thousands of supporters. The players were carried in two open-top buses over [[Pulteney Bridge]] and up [[Milsom Street]], before heading towards [[Bath Abbey]] and ending at The Recreation Ground, where a ticketed party was held.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-15 |title=Open-top bus parade for Bath's Premiership winning rugby players |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czr8rpp25kmo |access-date=2025-06-19 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb |archive-date=18 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618174027/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czr8rpp25kmo |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Stadium==
{{main|Recreation Ground (Bath)}}

===The Recreation Ground===
[[File:Bath Recreation rugby ground, 2015.jpg|thumb|The Recreation Ground]]Bath play at the [[Recreation Ground (Bath)|Recreation Ground]], also known as "The Rec".  The stadium is in the centre of the city, next to the River Avon. For the 2009–10 season the ground capacity was expanded to 11,700, and Bath play all of their home matches there during the club season. During summer, the ground is adjusted to make it capable for holding [[cricket]] matches. This cricket field is used for local contests and hosted [[Somerset County Cricket Club]] for one match a year until 2011.<ref name="brispost-20090904">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Somerset-want-use-Rec-Twenty20-games/article-1309982-detail/article.html|title=Somerset want to use The Rec for Twenty20 games|date=4 September 2009|publisher=Bristol Evening Post|access-date=21 January 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114072401/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Somerset-want-use-Rec-Twenty20-games/article-1309982-detail/article.html|archive-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

In November 2009 the new chief executive, [[Nick Blofeld]], stated the club was seeking a mostly seated stadium for 20,000 to suit modern professional rugby, with potential for future expansion, containing "restaurants and cafés, hospitality suites, conference facilities and good food and beverage outlets and other potential retail outlets".<ref name="bathchron-20091212">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Rugby-club-looking-20k-stadium/article-1561447-detail/article.html|title=Rugby club: We're looking for 20k stadium|date=30 November 2009|publisher=Bath Chronicle|access-date=12 December 2009|archive-date=3 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203130058/http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Rugby-club-looking-20k-stadium/article-1561447-detail/article.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The charitable status of the Rec had prevented progress, but in 2013 the Charity Commission recommended a scheme to allow the club's former training ground at Lambridge to be exchanged for an extended footprint on the Rec, free from the charitable rules. 

The club submitted proposals for an 18,500-seat stadium, intending to apply for planning permission in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bath Rec redevelopment|work=BBC News|date=14 November 2013|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-24937944|archive-date=6 August 2015|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806054954/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-24937944|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:Stand on the rugby ground - geograph.org.uk - 2536346.jpg|left|thumb|View of the South Stand hospitality boxes]]
The First Tier Tribunal limited the land on the Rec available which put the club's development plans on ice, and as a consequence the club received planning permission to extend its capacity to 14,000 on a temporary basis for the following  two seasons to cover their 150th anniversary celebrations in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Temporary Plans|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-submits-application-temporary-Rec/story-21086101-detail/story.html|access-date=1 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513024954/http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Bath-Rugby-submits-application-temporary-Rec/story-21086101-detail/story.html|archive-date=13 May 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> After further successful planning applications, the club was able to increase its capacity by 1,000 for the 2016/17 season onwards – taking the capacity to 14,500 spectators for home games.

The works took place during the 2016 off-season and saw the West Stand partially demolished and improved facilities provided, including bars, food outlets and toilets. The new four-year consents enabled Bath to focus  on a permanent redevelopment solution for the Rec, without on-going debate around temporary stands. Permanent development proposals were intended to be brought forward long before the expiry of the four-year period.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bathrugby.com/the-club/club-history/the-rec-development/ |title=Redevelopment Plans - the Rec |access-date=2 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217172513/http://www.bathrugby.com/the-club/club-history/the-rec-development/ |archive-date=17 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 

An updated decision in December 2016 from the Charity First-Tier Tribunal relating to a revised Scheme for the governance of the Bath Recreation Ground,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stadium for Bath {{!}} Bath Rugby {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/stadium-for-bath |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503170710/https://www.bathrugby.com/stadium-for-bath |url-status=live }}</ref> including the use of the Recreation Ground site, was said by the club to "re-open the door to redevelopment at the Rec",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugby-statement-5/|title=Bath Rugby Statement|website=Bath Rugby|access-date=13 January 2017|archive-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116152929/http://www.bathrugby.com/news/bath-rugby-statement-5/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2023 a planning application for a new stadium was submitted which was revised, amended and resubmitted in January 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/stadium-for-bath|title=Stadium for Bath &#124; Bath Rugby &#124; Bath Rugby|website=www.bathrugby.com}}</ref> A final decision by Bath & North East Somerset Council's planning committee is awaited, but the revised application has achieved the support of a number of key organisations including the [[Bath Preservation Trust]] and [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/bath-rugby-development-proposals-response-2025-update/|title=Bath Rugby development proposals response – 2025 update|website=Bath Preservation Trust|access-date=7 September 2025|archive-date=15 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250215001445/https://www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/bath-rugby-development-proposals-response-2025-update/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-06-02/could-bath-rugbys-new-stadium-be-one-step-closer</ref>  This will see a stadium that seats 18,000.

===Twickenham Stadium===
[[File:Bath Rugby Shop.jpg|thumb|Bath Rugby club shop, next to [[Pulteney Bridge|Pultney Bridge]] in Bath city centre]]
Between the [[2016-17 Premiership Rugby|2016–17]] and [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby|2018–19]] seasons, Bath Rugby played an annual home fixture at [[Twickenham Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bath Rugby team to face Bristol Bears at Twickenham {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/content/bath-rugby-team-to-face-bristol-bears-at-twickenham |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503171903/https://www.bathrugby.com/content/bath-rugby-team-to-face-bristol-bears-at-twickenham |url-status=live }}</ref> The fixture; dubbed [[The Clash (rugby union)|The Clash]] was normally played around Easter and formed part of a five-year deal to host games at Twickenham.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rucker |first=Rugby |date=23 September 2016 |title=Bath Rugby launch plans for annual fixture in London over next five years |url=https://www.ruck.co.uk/bath-rugby-launch-plans-annual-fixture-london-next-five-years/ |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Ruck |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309171924/https://www.ruck.co.uk/bath-rugby-launch-plans-annual-fixture-london-next-five-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The 2017 match had an attendance of 61,868, and the 2018 match had 60,880 spectators.

==Kit==
Between 2020 and 2023, the kit was supplied by [[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020/21 Home Kit launches with Macron {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/content/2020-21-home-kit-launches-with-macron |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503164142/https://www.bathrugby.com/content/2020-21-home-kit-launches-with-macron |url-status=live }}</ref> 

[[Castore]] have been the preferred kit supplier since the start of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bath Rugby – Castore |url=https://castore.com/collections/bath-rugby |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Castore}}</ref>

==Seasons==
'''Key'''
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=45%}}
*Pts = Points
*Pos = Final position
*Div 1 = Division 1
*Prem = Premiership Rugby
*PS = Pool Stage
*R1 = Round 1
*R2 = Round 2
{{col-break}}
*R3 = Round 3
*R4 = Round 4
*R5 = Round 5
*R6 = Round 6
*R16= Round of 16
*QF = Quarter-finals
*SF = Semi-final
*RU = Runners Up
{{col-end}}

{| class="wikitable"
| style="background:gold" |<small>Winners</small>
| style="background:silver" |<small>Runners-up</small>
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope=colgroup colspan="4" |League
! colspan="3" scope="colgroup" |Cup
|-
!Season
!Division
!Pts
!Pos
![[Premiership Rugby Cup|Domestic Cup]]
![[European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
![[EPCR Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]
|-
![[1987–88 Courage League National Division One|1987–88]]
| Div 1 
| 30
|4th
| QF
| rowspan="9" |–
| rowspan="15" |–
|-
! [[1988–89 Courage League National Division One|1988–89]]
|Div 1
| 20
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1989–90 Courage League National Division One|1989–90]]
|Div 1
| 16
| 3rd
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1990–91 Courage League National Division One|1990–91]]
|Div 1
| 22
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| [[1990–91 Pilkington Cup|R3]]
|-
! [[1991–92 Courage League National Division One|1991–92]]
|Div 1
| 21
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1992–93 Courage League National Division One|1992–93]]
|Div 1
| 22
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| R3
|-
! [[1993–94 Courage League National Division One|1993–94]]
|Div 1
| 31
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1994–95 Courage League National Division One|1994–95]]
|Div 1
| 27
| style="background: silver" |''2nd''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1995–96 Courage League National Division One|1995–96]]
|Div 1
| 31
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
! [[1996–97 Courage League National Division One|1996–97]]
|Prem
| 31
| style="background: silver" |''2nd''
| R5
| [[1996–97 Heineken Cup|QF]]
|-
! [[1997–98 Premiership Rugby|1997–98]]
|Prem
| 26
| 3rd
| R5
| style="background: gold" |'''[[1997–98 Heineken Cup|Champions]]'''
|-
! [[1998–99 Premiership Rugby|1998–99]]
|Prem
| 30
| 6th
| R4
| –
|-
! [[1999–2000 Premiership Rugby|1999–00]]
|Prem
| 43
| style="background: silver" |''2nd''
| R4
| [[1999–2000 Heineken Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2000–01 Premiership Rugby|2000–01]]
|Prem
| 70
| 3rd
| R4
| [[2000–01 Heineken Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2001–02 Premiership Rugby|2001–02]]
|Prem
| 33
| 11th
| R6
| [[2001–02 Heineken Cup|QF]]
|-
! [[2002–03 Premiership Rugby|2002–03]]
|Prem
| 36
| 11th
| QF
| rowspan="2" |–
| style="background: silver" |''[[2002–03 European Challenge Cup|RU]]''
|-
! [[2003–04 Premiership Rugby|2003–04]]
|Prem
| 79
| style="background: silver" |''1st''
| QF
|[[2003–04 European Challenge Cup|SF]]
|-
! [[2004–05 Premiership Rugby|2004–05]]
|Prem
| 58
| 4th
| style="background: silver" |''RU''
| [[2004–05 Heineken Cup|PS]]
| rowspan="2" |–
|-
! [[2005–06 Premiership Rugby|2005–06]]
|Prem
| 46
| 9th
| SF
| [[2005–06 Heineken Cup|SF]]
|-
! [[2006–07 Premiership Rugby|2006–07]]
|Prem
| 45
| 8th
| R4
| rowspan="2" |–
| style="background: silver" |''[[2006–07 European Challenge Cup|RU]]''
|-
! [[2007–08 Premiership Rugby|2007–08]]
|Prem
| 69
| 3rd
| R4
| style="background: gold" |'''[[2007–08 European Challenge Cup|Champions]]'''
|-
! [[2008–09 Premiership Rugby|2008–09]]
|Prem
| 65
| 4th
| R1
| [[2008–09 Heineken Cup|QF]]
| rowspan="4" |–
|-
! [[2009–10 Premiership Rugby|2009–10]]
|Prem
| 61
| 4th
| R1
| [[2009–10 Heineken Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2010–11 Premiership Rugby|2010–11]]
|Prem
| 62
| 5th
| R1
| [[2010–11 Heineken Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2011–12 Premiership Rugby|2011–12]]
|Prem
| 44
| 8th
| SF
| [[2011–12 Heineken Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2012–13 Premiership Rugby|2012–13]]
|Prem
| 53
| 7th
| SF
| rowspan="2" | –
|[[2012–13 European Challenge Cup|QF]]
|-
! [[2013–14 Premiership Rugby|2013–14]]
|Prem
| 67
| 5th
| SF
| style="background: silver" |''[[2013–14 European Challenge Cup|RU]]''
|-
! [[2014–15 Premiership Rugby|2014–15]]
|Prem
| 75
| style="background: silver" |''2nd''
| PS
| [[2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup|QF]]
| rowspan="2" |–
|-
! [[2015–16 Premiership Rugby|2015–16]]
|Prem
| 48
| 9th
|–
| [[2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|2016–17]]
|Prem
| 59
| 5th
| R1
| –
|[[2016–17 European Rugby Challenge Cup|SF]]
|-
! [[2017–18 Premiership Rugby|2017–18]]
|Prem
| 56
| 6th
| style="background: silver" |''RU''
| [[2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup|PS]]
| rowspan="3" |–
|-
! [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby|2018–19]]
|Prem
| 56
| 6th
| R1
| [[2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby|2019–20]]
|Prem
| 67
| 4th
| R1
| [[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2020–21 Premiership Rugby|2020–21]]
|Prem
| 52
| 7th
|–
| rowspan="3" | –
|[[2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup|SF]]
|-
! [[2021–22 Premiership Rugby|2021–22]]
|Prem
| 34
| 13th
| PS
|[[2021–22 EPCR Challenge Cup|R16]]
|-
! [[2022–23 Premiership Rugby|2022–23]]
|Prem
| 47
| 8th
| PS
|[[2022–23 EPCR Challenge Cup|PS]]
|-
! [[2023–24 Premiership Rugby|2023–24]]
|Prem
| 60
| style="background: silver" |''2nd''
|PS
| [[2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup|R16]]
|
|-
! [[2024-25 Premiership Rugby|2024–25]]
|Prem
| 72
| style="background: gold" |'''1st'''
| style="background: gold" |'''Champions'''
|[[2024–25 European Rugby Champions Cup|PS]]
| style="background: gold" |'''[[2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup|Champions]]'''
|}

==Honours==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Bath Rugby Honours<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bath Rugby Honours Board {{!}} Bath Rugby |url=https://www.bathrugby.com/club/honours-board |access-date=2 May 2024 |website=Bath Rugby |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502102955/https://www.bathrugby.com/club/honours-board |url-status=live }}</ref>
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;" scope="col"|Competition
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;" scope="col"|Titles
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;" scope="col"|Seasons
|-
|[[Premiership Rugby]] 
|7
|[[1988–89 Courage League National Division One|1988–89]], [[1990–91 Courage League National Division One|1990–91]], [[1991–92 Courage League National Division One|1991–92]], [[1992–93 Courage League National Division One|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Courage League National Division One|1993–94]], [[1995–96 Courage League National Division One|1995–96]], [[2024–25 Premiership Rugby|2024–25]]
|-
|[[RFU Knockout Cup]]
|10
|[[1983–84 John Player Cup|1983–84]], [[1984–85 John Player Cup|1984–85]], [[1985–86 John Player Cup|1985–86]], [[1986–87 John Player Cup|1986–87]], [[1988–89 Pilkington Cup|1988–89]], [[1989–90 Pilkington Cup|1989–90]], [[1991–92 Pilkington Cup|1991–92]], [[1993–94 Pilkington Cup|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Pilkington Cup|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Pilkington Cup|1995–96]]
|-
|[[Premiership Rugby Cup]]
|1
|[[2024–25 Premiership Rugby Cup|2024–25]]
|-
|[[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Champions Cup]]
|1
|[[1997–98 Heineken Cup|1997–98]]
|-
|[[EPCR Challenge Cup|European Challenge Cup]]
|2
|[[2007–08 European Challenge Cup|2007–08]], [[2024–25 EPCR Challenge Cup|2024–25]]
|}

==Players==

The Bath Rugby squad for the [[2025–26 Premiership Rugby|2025–26 season]] is:<ref name="Bath Rugby Squad">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bathrugby.com/content/bath-rugby-squad-for-202526-season-confirmed|title=Bath Rugby squad for 2025/26 season confirmed|publisher=Bath Rugby|date=25 August 2025|access-date=25 August 2025}}</ref>

=== Senior squad ===
{{rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name='''[[Tom Dunn (rugby union)|Tom Dunn]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Dan Frost (rugby union)|Dan Frost]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Jasper Spandler]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=PR | name='''[[Thomas du Toit]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=PR | name='''[[Archie Griffin (rugby union)|Archie Griffin]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name='''[[Beno Obano]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name='''[[Will Stuart]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Mikey Summerfield]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=PR | name=[[Francois van Wyk]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Kieran Verden]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name='''[[Charlie Ewels]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=LK | name=[[Ross Molony]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Ewan Richards]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=LK | name='''[[Quinn Roux]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Alfie Barbeary]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=BR | name='''[[Josh Bayliss]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=BR | name=[[Jaco Coetzee (rugby union, born 1996)|Jaco Coetzee]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=BR | name=[[Thompson Cowan]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name='''[[Ted Hill (rugby union)|Ted Hill]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name='''[[Guy Pepper]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Miles Reid (rugby union)|Miles Reid]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Ethan Staddon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name='''[[Sam Underhill]]'''}}
{{rugby squad mid}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Tom Carr-Smith]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=SH | name=[[Neil le Roux]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name='''[[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer (c)]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=SH | name=[[Bernard van der Linde]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Ciaran Donoghue]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Sam Harris (rugby union, born 2003)|Sam Harris]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FH | name='''[[Finn Russell]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Will Butt]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=CE | name='''[[Chris Harris (rugby union)|Chris Harris]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=CE | name=[[Louie Hennessey]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name='''[[Ollie Lawrence]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name='''[[Max Ojomoh]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=CE | name='''[[Cameron Redpath]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name='''[[Henry Arundell]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name='''[[Joe Cokanasiga]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name='''[[Will Muir]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=FB | name='''[[Santiago Carreras]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Tom de Glanville]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Austin Emens]]}}
{{rugby squad end}}

=== Senior Academy ===
Source:<ref name="Bath Rugby Squad"/>

{{rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=HK | name=[[Evan Gallagher (rugby union)|Evan Gallagher]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Max Pearce]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Oscar Thomas (rugby union)|Oscar Thomas]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Kepu Tuipulotu]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=PR | name=[[Ioan Emanuel]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Alfie Griffin]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Scott Kirk]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Theo Malik]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Henry Mountford]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Billy Sela]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Claudius Wheeler]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Jack Bennett (rugby union, born 2004)|Jack Bennett]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Harvey Cuckson]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Tom Hilton (rugby union)|Tom Hilton]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Will Jeanes]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Fred Kempton]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Rory McKnight]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=LK | name='''[[Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi]] '''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Arthur Green (rugby union)|Arthur Green]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[James Maloney (rugby union)|James Maloney]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=BR | name=[[Alex Ridgway]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[George Timmins (rugby union)|George Timmins]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Connor Treacey (rugby union)|Connor Treacey]] }}
{{rugby squad mid}} 
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=SH | name=[[Ieuan Davies]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Isaac Mears]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[James Linegar]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=CE | name=[[Jack Harrison (rugby union)|Jack Harrison]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Cam Ward (rugby union)|Cam Ward]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Henry Bartlett (rugby union)|Henry Bartlett]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Charlie Griffin (rugby union)|Charlie Griffin]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Tyler Offiah]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Harry Walker (rugby union)|Harry Walker]] *}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Sam Winters]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=FB | name=[[Jack Woods (rugby union)|Jack Woods]] }}
{{rugby squad end}}

''* Denotes Senior Academy players listed as a Scholar player with the [[University of Bath]] [[Team Bath|rugby programme]].''

===Rugby World Cup===
The following are players which have represented their countries at the [[Rugby World Cup]], whilst playing for Bath, players in '''bold''' won the tournament.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|Tournament
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"| Players selected
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|{{nrut|England}} players
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|Other national team players
|-
| [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]
| 6
| [[Gareth Chilcott]], [[Graham Dawe]], [[David Egerton]], [[Jon Hall (rugby union)|Jon Hall]], [[Nigel Redman]], [[Richard Hill (rugby union, born 1961)|Richard Hill]]
| 
|-
| [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]]
| 4
| [[Nigel Redman]], [[Richard Hill (rugby union, born 1961)|Richard Hill]], [[Jeremy Guscott]], [[Jonathan Webb]]
| 
|-
| [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]]
| 12
| [[Ben Clarke]], [[Graham Dawe]], [[Jeremy Guscott]], [[John Mallett]], [[Jonathan Callard]], [[Phil de Glanville]], [[Mike Catt]], [[Steve Ojomoh]], [[Victor Ubogu]]
| [[Simon Geoghegan]] {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}}, [[Dave Hilton (rugby union)|Dave Hilton]], [[Eric Peters (rugby union)|Eric Peters]] {{flagicon|Scotland}}
|-
| [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]]
| 7
| [[Victor Ubogu]], [[Phil de Glanville]], [[Jeremy Guscott]], [[Mike Catt]], [[Matt Perry (rugby union)|Matt Perry]]
| [[Kevin Maggs]] {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}}, [[Dan Lyle]] {{flagicon|USA}}
|-
| [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]]
| 6
| '''[[Iain Balshaw]]''', '''[[Mike Tindall]]''', '''[[Mike Catt]]''', '''[[Danny Grewcock]]'''
| [[Kevin Maggs]] {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby union}}, [[Simon Danielli]] {{flagicon|Scotland}}
|-
| [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]
| 6
| [[Lee Mears]], [[Matt Stevens (rugby union)|Matt Stevens]], [[Steve Borthwick]], [[Olly Barkley]], [[Nick Abendanon]]
| [[Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu]] {{flagicon|Samoa}}
|-
| [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]]
| 7
| [[David Wilson (rugby union, born 1985)|David Wilson]], [[Lee Mears]], [[Lewis Moody]], [[Matt Banahan]]
| [[Chris Biller]] {{flagicon|USA}}, [[Anthony Perenise]] {{flagicon|Samoa}}, [[Francois Louw]] {{flagicon|RSA}}
|-
| [[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015]]
| 12
| [[Rob Webber]], [[David Wilson (rugby union, born 1985)|David Wilson]], [[George Ford (rugby union)|George Ford]], [[Sam Burgess]], [[Jonathan Joseph (rugby union)|Jonathan Joseph]], [[Anthony Watson (rugby union)|Anthony Watson]]
| [[Nikola Matawalu]] {{flagicon|Fiji}}, [[Dominic Day]], [[Rhys Priestland]] {{flagicon|Wales}}, [[Alafoti Faosiliva]] {{flagicon|Samoa}}, [[Francois Louw]] {{flagicon|RSA}}, [[Horacio Agulla]] {{flagicon|Argentina}}
|-
| [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019]]
| 6
| [[Sam Underhill]], [[Jonathan Joseph (rugby union)|Jonathan Joseph]], [[Joe Cokanasiga]], [[Ruaridh McConnochie]], [[Anthony Watson (rugby union)|Anthony Watson]]
| '''[[Francois Louw]]''' {{flagicon|RSA}}
|-
| [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023]]
| 5
| [[Ollie Lawrence]], [[Will Stuart]], [[Sam Underhill]]
| [[Cameron Redpath]], [[Finn Russell]] {{flagicon|Scotland}}
|}

===Past club captains===
''Captaincy for the entire season only is counted, individual games are not included.''
*2022– {{flagicon|England}} [[Ben Spencer (rugby union)|Ben Spencer]]
*2019–22 {{flagicon|England}} [[Charlie Ewels]]
*2017–19 {{flagicon|England}} [[Matt Garvey]]
*2016–17 {{flagicon|England}} [[Guy Mercer]]
*2011–16 {{flagicon|England}} [[Stuart Hooper]]
*2010–11 {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Luke Watson]]
*2009–10 {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Michael Claassens]]
*2008–09 {{flagicon|England}} [[Michael Lipman]] and {{flagicon|England}} [[Alex Crockett]]
*2005–08 {{flagicon|England}} [[Steve Borthwick]]
*2003–05 {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Jonathan Humphreys]]
*2002–03 {{flagicon|England}} [[Danny Grewcock]]
*2001–02 {{flagicon|United States of America}} [[Dan Lyle]]

===British and Irish Lions===
The following are players which have represented the British and Irish Lions whilst playing for Bath:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|Tour
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"| Players selected
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|{{nrut|England}} players
|-
| [[1904 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand]]
| 1
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Ron Rogers]]
|-
| [[1989 British Lions tour to Australia]]
| 3
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Gareth Chilcott]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Jeremy Guscott]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Andy Robinson]]
|-
| [[1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand]]
| 4
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Stuart Barnes]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Jeremy Guscott]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Andy Reed (rugby union)|Andy Reed]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Ben Clarke]]
|-
| [[1997 British Lions tour to South Africa]]
| 3
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Mike Catt]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Jeremy Guscott]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Nigel Redman]]
|-
| [[2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia]]
| 3
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Iain Balshaw]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Matt Perry (rugby union)|Matt Perry]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Mike Catt]]
|-
| [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand]]
| 2
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Danny Grewcock]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Matt Stevens (rugby union)|Matt Stevens]]
|-
| [[2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa]]
| 1
| {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Lee Mears]]
|-
| [[2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand]]
| 3
| {{flagdeco|WAL}} [[Taulupe Faletau]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Jonathan Joseph (rugby union)|Jonathan Joseph]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Anthony Watson (rugby union)|Anthony Watson]]
|-
| [[2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa]]
| 2
| {{flagdeco|WAL}} [[Taulupe Faletau]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Anthony Watson (rugby union)|Anthony Watson]]
|-
| [[2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia]]
| 2
| {{flagdeco|SCO}} [[Finn Russell]], {{flagdeco|ENG}} [[Will Stuart]]
|}

==Management==
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;" scope="col"|Position
! style="background-color:#1034A6; color:white; border:1px solid black;"scope="col"|Name
|-
|Head of Rugby ||{{Flagicon|RSA}} [[Johann van Graan]]
|-
|Defence Coach ||{{Flagicon|RSA}} [[JP Ferreira]]
|-
|Attack Coach ||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Martin Gleeson (rugby league)|Martin Gleeson]]
|-
|Forwards Coach ||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Richard Blaze]]
|-
|Scrum Coach||{{Flagicon|SCO}} [[Steve Scott (rugby union)|Stevie Scott]]
|-
|Contact Coach and Head Academy Coach ||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Andy Robinson]]
|-
|Head of academy||{{Flagicon|ENG}} Craig Lilley
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.allez-bath.co.uk/ Official Supporters Website]
* [http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s105.php Come On My Lovers]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716134221/http://www.statbunker.com/rugby/ktg/index.php?PL=ktgalltime&TeamID=4&statType=leadingGoalScorers&Code=8217249&x=36&y=10 Bath's All Time Premiership Stats@Statbunker ]
* [http://www.premiershiprugby.com Premiership Rugby Official Website]

{{Bath Rugby squad}}
{{English Premiership (rugby union)}}
{{European Rugby Challenge Cup}}
{{Original Courage League 1 clubs}}

[[Category:Bath Rugby| ]]
[[Category:Premiership Rugby teams]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in England]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1865]]
[[Category:Sport in Bath, Somerset]]
[[Category:1865 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Heineken Cup champions]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Somerset]]
[[Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions]]