Bath Rugby and the PREM’s future with no relegation
The 2026-2027 season begins in September although there will be warm up games before that.
Next season’s final will be held at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 19 June 2027, and hopefully Bath will be there to contest the title. Sadly there is no promotion from the Championship – the second tier of the rugby pyramid due to Championship clubs failing the required ground standards which need to have a capacity of 10,000 and prove they have the financial backing to survive at the top level following several clubs who have gone bust in the past.
There are clubs who could gain promotion in the future if they can meet the criteria. The Bedford Blues have a long rugby heritage but it has been 30 years since they were in the top flight. Ealing Trailfinders consistently do well but their ground falls short of the 10,000 target with less than 3,000 seated. Coventry RFC has the same issue with their ground but have a strong pedigree in the sport while Worcester Warriors have a ground that is more than suitable at Sixways which holds more than 10,000 fans.
Worcester is one of the reasons why the RFU are keen on strong financial backing for any future PREM clubs due to their financial collapse in 2022 and suspension from the top flight. That insolvency along with those of London Irish (now reconstituted with new owners), Wasps (yet to return to professional rugby or to find a ground) and Jersey Reds who were knocking on the door at one time but also went bust – although are survived by their traditional amateur club.
If these are other teams like Chinnor, Hartpury, Doncaster and Cornish Pirates can consistently get their acts together then the PREM could see an enlarged league. Those of a certain age would also welcome a competition that would see visits from Welsh clubs – harking back to the glory days of the 1970s when the likes of Neath, Pontypool, Cardiff, Llanelli, Swansea, and Bridgend would catch the train to England.
Match reports and more news and fixtures at: https://www.bathrugby.com/
Bath City FC: www.bathcityfc.com/
After relegation from the National League South in May City look to life in the Southern League Premier South division – the seventh tier of the football pyramid. There they will come up against local rivals from last season in Chippenham Town, plus there will be fixtures with Frome Town in Somerset, Yate in South Gloucestershire and against Taunton Town – possibly the pick of the local derbies.
Larkhall Athletic AFC: www.larkhallathletic.com/
The team will play their football in the Southern League Div One South this season where they will come up against local rivals such as Westbury, Frome and Melksham in their campaign to gain promotion – when they could join Bath City.
New players to sign include Stan Wyatt a 19 year-old winger who has previously been with Paulton and Melksham Town. Another signing is 20 year-old left back, Harrison Coker who began his career with League Two side Bristol Rovers before spells at Melksham and Clevedon Town, where he spent two years.
And the Larks are joined with striker, Elliot Gardner who has previously played for Slimbridge, Thornbury Town, Hallen FC, and most recently Roman Glass FC.
Odd Down FC: www.odddownbathafc.co.uk/
A season in the Jewson Western League sees The Downers take on the likes of Keynsham, Calne and Radstock amongst local teams while the Odd Down Women will look to have another successful season. The club also have a development side and an U18 team.
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