Bath Rugby
Bath is one of those places where rugby isn't just another sport – it is the sport. The city has a genuine rugby culture and on match day the centre of Bath fills with supporters making their way towards one of the most unusual settings for a professional rugby ground.
The Recreation Ground, or the Rec as everyone calls it, sits right in the middle of the city, alongside the River Avon and within sight of Bath Abbey. As settings for a rugby ground go, it's difficult to beat.Unfortunately, that's where the good news rather runs out.
Despite its wonderful location, the Rec is, frankly, a pretty poor ground. Much of the seating is open to the elements and there is very little protection from the British weather. If it rains, you get wet.
And this is where Bath really loses me. For the 2026/27 season you can pay £79 for an uncovered seat, while the best seats can cost an astonishing £109. So you could potentially spend nearly eighty quid to sit outside in the rain watching rugby.
Sorry, but I'm not doing that.
Bath's pricing makes it the most expensive Premiership ground this season, although the club points out that matches regularly sell out and that there is a range of prices available.
The irony is that the Rec's biggest strength is also its biggest weakness. You couldn't wish for a better location, but being slap bang in the middle of Bath severely restricts what can be done with the place.
And something is finally being done.A major redevelopment of the Rec has been approved, with work due to begin during the 2026/27 season. The project is expected to cost around £70 million and will transform the ground, with new stands and improved facilities while retaining the stadium in its central Bath location. The redevelopment is scheduled to be completed for the 2028/29 season.
It has not been universally welcomed, however. The plans have been controversial, with concerns raised about the scale of the development and its impact on the surrounding area. But after years of discussions, objections and planning wrangles, Bath are finally getting the opportunity to bring the ground into the 21st century.
Until then, you're left with one of the oddest contrasts in English rugby.
Outside, you have one of the most beautiful cities in England and a superb setting beside the river. Inside, you have a ground which, despite hosting top-level professional rugby, still feels remarkably basic in places.
The atmosphere is another matter altogether. When the Rec is full, Bath supporters create a tremendous noise and there is no doubt that this is a very popular rugby venue. With the pitch surrounded by the city, you also get something that you simply don't experience at a modern out-of-town stadium.
But popularity doesn't make getting soaked any more enjoyable.
I suspect that once the redevelopment is finished, the Rec will become a considerably better place to watch rugby. Whether it will still have quite the same charm remains to be seen.
For now, I'll happily admire the setting from outside.
And if someone offers me a £109 seat, I'll politely decline – especially if there's a chance of rain.
Prices correct as at September 2026
Return to England Rugby home page