British & Irish Lions prop Will Stuart and young forwards Vilikesa Sela and Kepu Tuipulotu are the latest Bath Rugby players to commit their futures to the club.
Bath Rugby’s Vilikesa Sela, left, and Kepu Tuipulotu, second left, sing the national anthem before England A’s match against the All Blacks XV at The Rec in November. The duo have now extended their Bath deals until 2028 | Photo © Richard Briggs
England star Stuart, who has won 105 caps with the Blue, Black & White, has renewed his contract and will remain at The Rec until 2028.
He said: “I can’t really put into words the contrast from the 2021-22 season, losing at Sixways [Worcester] in the last game of the season and confirming our place at the bottom of the table, to last summer and the elation of turning the bus into Great Pulteney Street and seeing the roads swarming with fans [after Bath’s treble trophy triumph].
“Pride doesn’t really do it justice. So, in light of that, who wouldn’t want to give it another crack?”
Prop Sela, who gained England A honours this season, has also renewed his Bath deal until 2028.
The 20-year-old, who has earned 14 caps with the Somerset outfit, said: “Bath is home for me. From playing in the academy to playing with the senior team, I’ve always seen it as a privilege to wear the jersey.
“I feel like something special is being built here for the future to come, so to carry on my journey in the Blue, Black & White is honestly a blessing. Psalm 37:5.”
Also renewing his contract at The Rec until 2028 is hooker Tuipulotu, who has 21 caps for Bath and has featured for England A.
Tuipulotu, 20, said: “Renewing my contract with Bath is a massive achievement for me and my family.
“Coming straight out of school and signing for Bath was a surreal feeling as these last two years I’ve been here I’ve learnt a lot.
“I’ve loved playing at The Rec and I’ve really made Bath my home.”
Johann van Graan, Bath’s head of rugby, said: “It’s been amazing to have been on this journey for the last three-and-a-half years with Stuey [Stuart].
“He came into his own in 2025, shining for England and being a Lion – but, most importantly, being a rock for us at Bath.
“We’re looking forward to Stuey being one of the cornerstones of not only our pack but our whole team.
“We’re so excited about Billy [Sela] continuing at Bath. It’s been great to see him progress through the Bath pathway and it’s a great testament not only to Billy but to all in our pathway.
“His development over the last few years as a young man has seen him grow immensely and his best is definitely yet to come.
“It’s great to see how Kepu has developed over the last few years. He is one of the most explosive players not just on the attack but also on the defensive side.
“It’s been special to see Kepu develop not only as a Bath player but as an England A player and an international U20 captain.
“Kepu is part of our family and we believe he will keep performing like a champion over the coming years.”
Bath centre Ollie Lawrence and back row Sam Underhill both touched down for England in their Guinness Six Nations Round 3 encounter with Ireland, who were 42-21 victors at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on Saturday 21st February.
Lawrence – who crossed in the 53rd minute – and Blue, Black & White winger Henry Arundell were in the England starting XV.
Underhill arrived from the bench in the 70th minute and scored his try five minutes later.
Blue, Black & White back row Guy Pepper joined the fray in the 51st minute as a replacement.
England, who are third in the table, will face Italy in Rome in Round 4 on Saturday 7th March.
Bath’s Connor Treacey scored a try for England U20 and captained them when international rugby came to The Rec for the second time this season.
But just as when the All Blacks XV took on England A at the Blue, Black & White’s stadium in November, there was defeat for the home nation.
This time, Ireland U20 took the honours 31-21 in U20 Six Nations Round 3 on Friday 20th February – England’s first loss in the competition this year, after wins over Wales and Scotland.
Joining number 8 Treacey in the England U20 starting XV was Bath winger Tyler Offiah.
Treacey almost scored when he made a great run from a line-out, only to be tackled just short of the line.
However, he did claim a try when he twisted his way out of two tackles to touch down under the posts for England’s second score.
The hosts led 14-7 at the turnaround but Ireland hit back to go 28-14 up.
England responded with a converted try but Ireland added a penalty to complete the scoring.
Next up for England U20 is a Round 4 match against Italy U20 in Treviso on Friday 6th March.
Bath’s under-18s were beaten 38-36 by Bristol Bears in a thrilling PREM Next Gen academy league final at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester, on Sunday 22nd February.
The match – the showpiece of the Next Gen’s Finals Day – was a cracker, Bristol hitting back from a 12-point deficit to secure the crown against a Bath side who had got to this stage with an unbeaten record of seven wins and a draw.
The Bears found themselves 19-7 down but hit back to be 19-14 adrift at the interval and then turned the game on its head with three tries in the third quarter.
Both sides scored six tries, and Bath had 53% of the possession and 59% of the territory.
The Blue, Black & White entered the Bristol 22 on 12 occasions, whereas the Bears got into Bath’s 22 seven times.
But in attack, Bristol gained 357 metres – Bath managed 184 metres.
Defeat meant that the Blue, Black & White lost in the final for the second year running.
Bath starting XV: 1 Henry Veale, 2 Logan Jarvie, 3 Ned Cartwright, 4 Ben Allen, 5 Henry Ball, 6 Alex Yeabsley, 7 Harry Hellier, 8 Georgia Faosiliva, 9 Ollie Lewis, 10 Max Hooper, 11 Ryan Carr, 12 Declan Treacey, 13 Aston Barrington-Hibbert, 14 Stan Walsh, 15 Sam Bunch.
Bath replacements: 16 Malachi Randolph, 17 Theo Lewis-Zdybel, 18 Sid Moore, 19 Filippo Hurrell, 20 Charlie Greenhough, 21 Oscar Harrison, 22 Cade Comer, 23 Taotafa Faosiliva.
