Stadium plans force Bath to go on the road for Prem season run-in

Bath’s last two home games of the season will be played away from The Rec as part of an accelerated construction plan for the club’s new stadium.

The new timeline, which is aimed at completing the revamped stadium for Bath in time for the start of the 2028/9 season, will see the games against Harlequins on the weekend of May 15 and Saracens on June 5 moved.

Should Bath secure a home semi-final, as they have done for the past three seasons, this will also have to be taken on the road.

“We are in discussion with alternative host venues, and we will update you once the location for these fixtures is confirmed,” Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald wrote in an open letter to club supporters, external.

“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.”

Bath’s Prem fixture against Newcastle Red Bulls on the weekend of April 17 will be the club’s final home game of the regular season.

While the overall design of the new stadium remains unchanged from the original scheme approved by Bath and North East Somerset Council last September, the club intends to start construction on the East Stand first rather than the West Stand and have submitted a planning amendment to this effect.

“We are 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,” said McDonald.

“This long-awaited project is transformational and will be fantastic for both the club and the city.”