By Harry Mottram: It is fair to say that the 2024-2025 season has seen Bath Rugby Union Club back to their best with victories over Exeter, Leicester, Northampton and Gloucester with the crowning glory of winning the Premiership Cup.
As the Bath boss Johann van Graan said in an interview with Rugby Pass: “It is a great time to be at Bath Rugby.” Apart from the noisy neighbours up the road at Ashton Gate the Blue-Black-and-Whites have nearly had it all their own way – give or take a European game or two.
At the time of going to press Bath’s appearance in the European Challenge Cup against Lyon on Friday 23 May and Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership Round 18 at the Stone X Stadium are yet to happen – but whatever takes place Bath have rolled back the years to once again be at the top of the English rugby union tree.
The team are in possibly the best shape they’ve been in for years with the prospect of adding to the trophy cabinet in 2026.
Yes there is the question mark over the new stadium with planners to make a decision soon as the arguments flow back and forth – but new stadium or not the Recreation Ground has seen sell-out after sell-out with some heady afternoons and evenings for supporters.
Away from home the 24-26 win against Harlequins in October was one to cherish as Bath had to come back after trailing 21-14 at half time in round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership. A week before they also had to play catch-up rugby in the second half against Gloucester but despite trailing at the break they romped home to 31-55 win. In the cup it was back to the 70s in November with a 78-19 win over Bristol Bears and a 0-73 win away to Ampthill who to be fair are a tier 2 club.
In the Investec Champions Cup Leinster proved too strong back in January in Round 4 halting Bath’s advance but a 40-21 in the previous round over ASM Clermont Auvergne was one for the archives on a cold winter’s evening which helped to make up for the defeats against Stade Rochelais and Benetton in earlier rounds.
Bath Rugby Ladies have gone from strength to strength with a thumping win at the Sixways Stadium over Chester in the Papa Johns Intermediate Plate final running out 60-5 victors on May 17. The club have ambitions to become a topflight team playing currently in the Championship South 1 – and have enjoyed huge support for their double header matches at the Rec which have proved very popular – and have helped to showcase the team.
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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