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Bath Rugby’s 2026-27 Gallagher PREM home games with Harlequins and Saracens are set to be played away from The Rec | Photo © Richard Briggs
The Blue, Black & White’s iconic home can currently accommodate 14,509 spectators. However, it will be transformed into an 18,000-capacity venue, with construction due to start at the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
But the club want to bring forward building work, meaning home matches against Harlequins in May and Saracens in June – plus a possible play-off tie – would be staged elsewhere to help the new facility be ready for the start of the 2028-29 season. Under this plan, the project is expected to take just 18 months.
In a letter to Bath supporters on Monday 10th August, Tarquin McDonald – the club’s chief executive – said: “Our stadium designs, which were approved at planning committee last year, set out a phased construction over three seasons whilst we continue to play rugby at The Rec, with the goal of maintaining home advantage for the team, matchday rituals for our supporters and retaining all the wider economic benefits for the city.
“We are also acutely aware of the impact of construction on nearby residents, and that shortening the duration of construction work would help to mitigate this impact. This has been a focus for our project team over recent months.
“I am therefore delighted to confirm that we have submitted a planning amendment which seeks approval for an accelerated construction phasing plan for the new stadium.
“This amendment will shorten the overall construction period to approximately 18 months, with the aim to complete your new stadium and home for the start of the 2028-29 season, which is great news.
“The improved timeline is achieved by commencing the construction of the new East Stand first, where this was previously programmed to follow construction of the West Stand. The overall design remains exactly as per the planning approval received last year.
“To facilitate this improved timeline, we will need to create a slightly longer off-season in summer 2027 by taking the last two regular games of the 2026-27 season on the road to an alternate ground.
“This means that our home fixtures against Harlequins and Saracens in Rounds 16 and 18 [respectively] of the Gallagher PREM will be played away from The Rec to facilitate the commencement of construction work on the stadium, including the relocation of the pitch almost 25 metres into The Rec in time for the 2027-28 season.
“We are in discussion with alternative host venues and we will update you once the location for these fixtures is confirmed.
“Our goal is to minimise disruption as far as possible, and we hope that you will all join us and help make these fixtures a proper home away from home.
“If any of our season-ticket holders are unable to attend at the alternate ground we will, of course, credit your account accordingly.
“This means that our Gallagher PREM fixture against Newcastle Red Bulls on the weekend of 17th April will be our last ever fixture in the current configuration of The Rec, and we will ensure we mark this milestone appropriately.”
McDonald addressed supporters’ concerns about the number of Friday-night fixtures that Bath have been given in the first half of 2026-27.
He said: “Fixtures have been released across all three senior competitions, and I am sure you look forward to the start of the season as much as we do.
“Some of you have commented on Friday-night fixtures.
“Scheduling is ultimately determined by the competition broadcasters.
“Our strong preference – aligned with supporter feedback – is Saturday-afternoon kick-offs, and we are clear on this with PREM Rugby and EPCR [European Professional Club Rugby], with whom we will work closely to ensure fixture scheduling evens out over the season.”
Bath’s U18 team made a winning start to their Defender Next Gen League campaign, beating Newcastle 38-35 in Round 1 on Wednesday 5th August.
The match was played at Malvern College in Worcestershire, where it was one of five Next Gen fixtures to take place on the day.
The Blue, Black & White, who led 19-14 at half-time, outscored Newcastle by six tries and four conversions to five tries and five conversions.
Bath had 57% of the possession and 70% of the territory but needed a last-gasp converted touchdown to secure victory.
Going over for the victors were Zach Nicholson, Malachai Randolph (2), Charlie Day, Sam Tiller-Wood and Henry Middlehurst. Nicholson landed the four conversions.
Tom Meredith was yellow-carded for the Somerset side.
Bath starting XV: Will Jordan-Willis, Malachai Randolph, Josh King, Charlie Greenhough, Lex Vrettos, Will Dawson, Ewan Ross, Noah Harding, Oscar Harrison, Zach Nicholson, Tom Meredith, Aston Barrington-Hibbert, Hamish Kennedy, Charlie Day, Rupert Jones.
Bath replacements: Doug Lemon, Archie Winterburn, Miles Wilson, Max Carter, Sam Tiller-Wood, Milo Powell, Will Kemp, Henry Middlehurst.
This article was originally published by Bath Echo.
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