Bath Rugby Crowned Premiership Champions Again

Bath Rugby are the reigning champions of England after ending a 29-year wait to win the Gallagher Premiership title.

The club secured the 2024–25 Premiership Rugby championship with a 23–21 victory over Leicester Tigers in the final, held at Allianz Stadium on a sun-soaked afternoon. This win marked Bath’s first top-flight league title since the 1995–96 season.

Bath finished the 2024–25 regular season in first place on the Gallagher Premiership table, earning home advantage throughout the playoffs. Their league position qualified them directly for the final, where they faced Leicester Tigers, who had progressed through the semi-finals.

The victory means Bath will represent England in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup, having earned qualification through their Premiership triumph. It also adds to the club’s historical record, which includes 21 major trophies and a legacy of sustained success in English rugby union.

Bath Rugby, founded in 1865 and based at the Recreation Ground in Bath, Somerset, has now ended its longest title drought in the Premiership era. The club is one of only three teams never to have been relegated from England’s top division since the league’s inception.

Johann van Graan, who became Director of Rugby in July 2022, oversaw the championship campaign in his third season at the club. Ben Spencer captained the side throughout the season, leading the team in the final and throughout the playoffs.

The win over Leicester Tigers in the final was described as tense and closely contested, with Bath prevailing by just two points. The result sparked celebrations among players and supporters, marking a significant moment in the club’s modern history.

Bath’s success in the 2024–25 season builds on recent achievements, including their victory in the European Challenge Cup in 2025, which contributed to a period of renewed competitiveness in both domestic and European competitions.

As reigning champions, Bath will begin the 2025–26 Premiership Rugby season as the team to beat, aiming to defend their title and make history as the first club to win back-to-back Premiership titles since Leicester Tigers achieved the feat in the early 2000s.