The University of Bath secured their first British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby title when they won 17-7- at Durham University on Wednesday 11th March.
The University of Bath are the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Super Rugby 2025-26 champions
The victory in the North East – Bath’s 11th success on the trot – meant they finished two points clear of second-placed Loughborough University in the table.
Aaron Jones, the new champions’ head of rugby, said: “It’s been a long time and we’ve been building, building, building towards this.
“This is a massive reward for so many people – the S&C [strength and conditioning] coaches, physios, video analysis, facilities, groundsmen, senior management, the whole of Team Bath, everyone who works so hard for us.
“I’m lucky enough to be the head of rugby but my role is 5-10%. This is a reward for the club and all of our supporters. I’m pleased we have this for everybody.
“What I’m most proud of is the way all the players have developed themselves over the years.
“Some of these guys started in our fourth and fifth teams and they’ve come through. That’s what we’re about – we’re a performance team with a really high development focus.
“We have a culture which has been taken on by everyone in the club. It’s an environment we all enjoy and we’re definitely going to enjoy this moment.”
Player of the match Freddy Rossigneux, who scored one of Bath’s tries and set up the other, said: “The heart we showed and the way we dug deep tells you everything about this team.
“We use around 50 players a season and the boys who come in know their detail, know what they have to do and they buy in.
“We’re a tight-knit bunch, right through the 1s, 2s, 3s, and it’s that brothers culture that really puts us apart.”
Bath fielded 49 players across the season and won 15 of their 18 matches, scoring 101 tries.
Prop Alfie Griffin and half-back Roman Andrews appeared in every matchday squad.
Isaac Mears and Iwan Coyle missed only one game apiece.
Joint captain Max Pearce was the champions’ leading try-scorer, with 11.
Durham were the last team to beat Bath, winning 42-38 in Somerset on Wednesday 12th November in Round 7.
But Bath were determined there was to be no repeat of that outcome when the sides met again in Round 18.
And they made a great start to the return fixture. In the sixth minute, Harry Walker punted forward and full-back Rossigneux produced some superb handling to collect the bouncing ball and race over the line for Bath’s 100th try of the season.
James Beverley had a simple conversion – and he also added the extras when Bath notched their second try, this just before the half-hour mark.
Rossigneux was again involved, taking a big hit as he caught a Durham clearance into the Bath 22 but somehow regaining his feet and surging forward before passing inside for winger Rocky Prowse to race into the corner.
Bath’s well-drilled defence kept Durham at bay until the 54th minute when hooker Louis Inman force his way over and Louie Platt’s conversion cut the gap to 14-7.
The visitors quickly forced a penalty at the other end and Beverley’s successful kick eased the pressure on Bath, who saw out the remaining 25 minutes to secure the crown.
Praising the new champs, Bath Rugby said: “Congratulations to the University of Bath who have been crowned BUCS Super League champions.
“What a group, what a team, making history with their first ever BUCS Super Rugby title.
“An achievement everyone involved should be immensely proud of.”
Next up for University of Bath is a Super Rugby Milk Championship quarter-final against Cardiff University at the Team Bath Sports Training Village on Wednesday 25th March (6.30pm). Spectators will be admitted for free.
