Bath Rugby has confirmed that the final two home fixtures of their 2026/27 Gallagher Premiership season will be played away from their historic home ground, The Recreation Ground (The Rec). This change comes as part of an accelerated schedule to expedite the construction of their new stadium.
The club aims to have the redeveloped stadium ready for use at the start of the 2028/29 season. To enable this, the home games against Harlequins on the weekend of 15 May 2027 and Saracens on 5 June 2027 will be relocated to alternative venues, which have yet to be officially announced.
Although not explicitly stated, it is anticipated that if Bath Rugby qualifies for a home semi-final, as they have in the past three seasons, this fixture will also need to be played away from The Rec.
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In an open letter to supporters, Bath’s chief executive Tarquin McDonald said, “We are in discussion with alternative host venues and will update you once the locations for these fixtures are confirmed. Our goal is to minimise disruption as far as possible and we hope that you will all join us to make these fixtures feel like a true home away from home.”
Mr McDonald also provided details on the redevelopment project: “We remain on track to commence construction in 2027. Our stadium designs, approved last year, planned phased construction over three seasons while continuing to play at The Rec to preserve home advantage, matchday traditions, and the economic benefits for the city.”
“However, to reduce the impact on local residents and shorten the construction duration, we have submitted a planning amendment for an accelerated 18-month construction period. This involves starting with the East Stand first, rather than the West Stand as originally planned. The overall stadium design remains unchanged.”
The accelerated timeline requires extending the off-season in summer 2027 and relocating the last two fixtures of the 2026/27 season. This adjustment will facilitate pitch relocation approximately 25 metres within The Rec for the 2027/28 season.
The home match against Newcastle Red Bulls on the weekend of 17 April 2027 will mark the last game played in the current configuration of The Rec, and the club plans to commemorate this milestone appropriately.
Having played at The Rec for over 130 years, Bath Rugby’s redevelopment will replace the existing temporary stands, which have often been dismantled during off-seasons, with a permanent 18,000-seat stadium. The project’s expedited construction period represents a significant step forward for the club and the local community.