Bath Rugby is preparing to strengthen its partnership with the newly reformed Championship side Worcester Warriors for the upcoming season, aiming to provide its young talent with valuable playing opportunities in a competitive environment.
In recent seasons, Bath has loaned players to Championship teams such as Doncaster Knights—where Arthur Green gained significant experience before making a standout return—and Coventry Rugby. The club has also relied heavily on the University of Bath’s BUCs Super Rugby team to develop emerging talent.
Bath’s promising young squad, which recently showcased its potential by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup with a dominant 48-14 victory over Exeter Chiefs, possesses many players capable of excelling at the Championship level when not called upon for first-team duties.
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At a recent fan forum, Worcester Warriors’ newly appointed head coach Matt Everard revealed details of the arrangement. The Worcester News quoted him, saying: “We were very fortunate that both Bath and Bristol were scrapping over each other to jump into bed with us. It is something Stephen (Vaughan, Warriors CEO) and I discussed a lot. If I am completely honest, we chose between those two and the potential of one other. Bath have got a very good set-up, some great coaches and a huge squad. To be honest, it was a bit of a no-brainer.”
This move follows the trend of Premiership clubs establishing long-term partnerships with Championship sides, including Gloucester’s collaboration with Hartpury, Exeter Chiefs’ alliance with Cornish Pirates, and Northampton Saints’ close link with Bedford Blues. However, Bristol has since denied any ongoing negotiations with Worcester, despite previously loaning players to Hartpury.
Everard faces the challenge of rebuilding Worcester’s squad from scratch after the club’s dissolution in 2022. Reports suggest he has already secured commitments from 34 players, with two more spots remaining. Among the potential signings is Bath hooker Niall Annett, who spent time with Worcester before joining Bath in 2022.
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, the Championship has been rebranded as Champ Rugby and will feature 14 teams. The top six clubs at season’s end will enter playoffs to decide the title, with the winner—subject to RFU ground standards—facing the lowest-ranked Gallagher Premiership side in a two-legged playoff for promotion.
To support player development, Champ Rugby clubs will be allowed unlimited dual-registered players from Premiership teams, though only six may be included in any matchday squad. This policy aims to enhance the competitive experience of emerging players and strengthen the link between the two tiers of English rugby.