Rugby

The complete rugby programme

The University of Bath Rugby programme caters for all abilities, from the national BUCS Super Rugby league to recreational rugby. We strive to provide student rugby players with an environment and culture where they can progress towards their sporting and educational goals, establish lasting friendships and enjoy the experience.

Thanks to our thriving partnerships with the Rugby Football Union (England Rugby) and Bath Rugby, our high-performance programme provides a recognised pathway to national club teams and, for some, professional and international opportunities.

More than 300 men and women are part of our overall rugby programme, which encompasses 15s (performance, development, Freshers and socials), 7s, Touch and Rugby League. Students also have access to world-class coaching, facilities and support services in the renowned Team Bath Sports Training Village.

Top-flight: We are the reigning BUCS Super Rugby league and cup holders

Compete: There’s a team suited to you, from recreational to performance

Train: Progress using some of the country’s leading sport facilities

Excel: Follow in footsteps of big rugby names who have studied and played here

Maximise your potential on and off pitch

The University of Bath’s performance rugby programme allows players to maximise their potential while continuing their academic studies. Our mission is for rugby students and staff to enjoy the experience of being:

Better educated
Better athletes
Better at rugby
Better people

Our men’s 1st XV, sponsored by Bath Building Society, are the reigning champions of both the BUCS Super Rugby league, featuring the top 10 rugby-playing universities in England and Wales, and the BSR Milk Championship knockout competition after winning a historic double during the 2025-26 season.

More than 30 players who have represented the University in BUCS Super Rugby have progressed to the professional ranks. These include England international Max Ojomoh and fellow Bath Rugby players Louie Hennessey and Archie Griffin who represent Wales. The latter became the first current student to win a senior cap for a World Cup nation when he played for Wales against England in the 2024 Six Nations. Find out more about Archie’s progress here:

A picture of University of Bath students Connor Treacey, Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and Kepu Tuipulotu at The Rec after playing in the 2025 U20 Six Nations match between England and Italy. Enoch, in the centre, is wearing a blue Italy kit, while Connor and Kepu are wearing white England shirts. — (From left) University of Bath students Connor Treacey, Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi and Kepu Tuipulotu following the 2025 U20 Six Nations match between England and Italy at The Rec. PICTURE: Bob Bradford

Current student Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi made his senior debut for Italy in November 2025, while Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela and Kepu Tuipulotu represented England A. The trio were among nine players who competed for their countries at U20 level during the 2025 Six Nations campaign. Luca Mignot (France) and Austin Emens (Great Britain) have also won international Rugby 7s caps.

Jack Kenningham, now an England squad member, helped Harlequins win the 2020-21 Premiership title and 25 playing members of the Bath Rugby squad that completed a historic trophy treble in 2024-25 were either current students or graduates.

The women’s 1st XV, also sponsored by Bath Building Society, has strong links with Bath Rugby Ladies, who are looking to apply to become an Allianz Premier 15s club in the coming seasons. Among the past and present women’s rugby players at the University are GB 7s Olympian Grace Crompton, Wales internationals Jenny Hesketh and Mollie Wilkinson, and England U20 players China Kills, Gabriella Nigrelli and Jess Doyle.

A team for everyone

From performance level to casual touch rugby, our programme offers a diverse range of opportunities for rugby players of any standard to get involved with students offered the opportunity to play at least 12 matches per season, some up to 24.

We field Rugby Union teams in 15s and 7s competitions (BUCS, County Cups and Bath Combination Cup), and have a Rugby League programme. Our Touch Rugby programme is also one of the best in the country, winning titles at home and abroad while consistently producing players of international standard.

Click here to see a full list of our teams.

World-class facilities and support

The University’s Sports Training Village contains all the components necessary to support rugby squads – all on one campus.

Our facilities include:

A high-performance gym offered exclusively to athletes on our elite programmes;
Spacious and extensively-stocked Team Bath Gym & Fitness Centre split across three zones;
Six dedicated rugby pitches, a 3G Pitch that meets World Rugby standards and an additional 3G training strip;
A Physiotherapy and Sport Science Centre dedicated to supporting athletes.

The coaching team is led by Head of Rugby Aaron James, a former Premiership Rugby player with Wasps who has also coached Bath Rugby Academy, England Students and Great Britain 7s Students. He is supported by a range of experienced coaches from outside the University and developing student coaches within it.

Following in famous footsteps

Jack Kenningham won the 2021 Premiership title with Harlequins just days after graduating from the University of Bath

Some of our celebrated rugby alumni include:

Steve Borthwick (England – Captain and current Head Coach, Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby, Bath Rugby, Saracens)
Luke Charteris (Scarlets, Newport Gwent Dragons – Captain, USA Perpignan, Racing Metro, Wales, Bath Rugby – player and coach)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, London Scottish, England)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, England)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby, Wales)
Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby, Wales)
Freddie Clarke (GB Student Sevens, London Scottish, Gloucester)
Jack Kenningham (England Students, Harlequins)
Zack Henry (Rouen Normandy, USON Nevers, Leicester Tigers)
Darren Atkins (Bath Rugby)
Tom Doughty (Bath Rugby, Bristol Bears)
Will Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
Miles Reid (Bath Rugby)
Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors, England U20)
Natasha Hunt (England Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, Rio 2016 Olympian in 7s, Lichfield)
Izzy Noel-Smith (England Women’s Rugby World Cup finalist, Bristol)
Grace Crompton (Paris 2024 Olympian in 7s)
Amy Wilson-Hardy (England Women’s Rugby World Cup finalist, Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympian in 7s, Bristol, Wasps)
Sydney Gregson (England 7s contracted player, Saracens)
Paul Altier (Hong Kong 15s international)
Hugo Stiles (Hong Kong 7s)
Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby, Edinburgh, Worcester, Scotland)
James Hudson (Bath Rugby, London Irish, Newcastle Falcons – Captain, Gloucester Rugby)

Other notable alumni working in rugby include:

Craig Lilley (Bath Rugby Academy Manager)
James Molyneux (Head of Analysis for London Irish)

Study with us

The University of Bath is a campus university in a city that loves its rugby. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in engineering, humanities, management, science and social science, and are ranked top 12 in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for sports-related subjects. Click here to see what courses are available