Bath Rugby’s 2025/26 season was a campaign marked by strong performances and near glory. Under the guidance of Johann van Graan, the club reached three semi-finals across major competitions, including a deep run in the Gallagher Premiership and their best European showing in two decades. Yet, the squad will reflect on missed opportunities and moments that could have turned results their way.
Among the standout performers was Alfie Barbeary, who, after a slow start, delivered dominant displays at number eight, especially in the Champions Cup, earning multiple player-of-the-match awards and a shortlist spot for European player of the season. Despite his excellence, Barbeary will move on to Saracens next season, leaving a gap in Bath’s pack and a lasting fan impression.
Flanker Josh Bayliss stood out with his pace, footwork, and breakdown ability, earning starts in key matches in a highly competitive position. Thomas du Toit, known affectionately as ‘The TANK,’ continued to impress with powerful scrummaging and a remarkable nine-try haul, including a memorable hat-trick against Leicester Tigers. His departure to South Africa marks the end of an era, leaving Bath without arguably the world’s best prop.
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Hooker Tom Dunn broke Bath’s all-time appearance record, proving reliable in defense and carrying, although the lineout’s inconsistency weighed heavily on his and the pack’s performance. Charlie Ewels similarly contributed strongly when fit, helping shape Bath’s defense and attack close to the try line, also earning a deserved England recall after overcoming injury setbacks.
In their debut campaign for Bath, Dan Frost and Arthur Green injected fresh energy, with Frost’s explosive ball-carrying and Green’s ten tries standing out, including a standout match-winning performance against Saracens. Ted Hill’s versatility shone through as he adapted between lock and flanker, ending the season with six tries and providing crucial leadership down the stretch.
Other forwards such as Beno Obano anchored scrummaging dominance and carrying strength, highlighted by his seven-try season and earning a bench spot against the Springboks. Meanwhile, Miles Reid’s relentless defensive work saw him top the Premiership for jackals, yet he remains overlooked by England selectors.
Injury challenges impacted key players like Will Stuart, whose Achilles injury cut short a promising start, and Jaco Coetzee, sidelined since pre-season. Promising talents like Archie Griffin and Vilikesa Sela showed potential but struggled for consistent game time, often restricted to bench roles.
The season also marked farewells for Francois van Wyk and Alfie Barbeary, whose passion and leadership will be missed. As Bath Rugby looks ahead to 2026/27, the squad faces the challenge of building on a campaign filled with promise, balancing the loss of key forwards with the emergence of exciting talent poised to make their mark.