Welcome to The Rec as we prepare to face another West Country rival in Exeter Chiefs for our Round 8 fixture in the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership.
We extend our greeting to Saturday’s visitors and their players, staff, and supporters for their second trip to The Rec this season.
We also welcome the arrivals of Hame Faiva and Elliott Stooke, who is a familiar face here at Bath Rugby, and are delighted to have them both with us.
Back in October we hosted the Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup and came away with a 34-14 victory after a dominant first half performance.
This time it’s all about league points and we know both teams will be looking to end this current block of Premiership games on a high before embarking on our respective European campaigns in the Investec Champions Cup, which starts next weekend.
We come into this fixture on the back of a strong block of performances with some great wins, some frustrating narrow losses, and clear evidence that the team is getting better and continuing to improve.
Importantly we’ve managed to pick up six bonus points from seven games and that’s going to come into play at the end of the season when the final league placings are decided.
Last Friday evening under the lights saw a very close game away from home against a physical Sale Sharks team and we were unfortunate not to win.
Returning to The Rec, we are anticipating another packed house and continue to be incredibly grateful to everyone for your support.
There has been in recent weeks a fair amount of coverage regarding the Professional Game Partnership (PGP), which is the new name for the Professional Game Agreement between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the clubs.
The PGP covers all aspects of the relationship between the Premiership clubs and the RFU, from player release to academies and of course funding. The relationship between the Premiership and the RFU should be one of partnership, the clubs play a vital role in managing the academy and pathway system across the country for both the club and national game.
Whilst some have challenged the level of proposed future funding, it is absolutely right and proper that the PGP provides an appropriate level of funding for the Premiership clubs which reflects their investment in English rugby, as they continue to rely on the support of shareholders following the Covid pandemic.
It’s in all our interests that the domestic game can find a sound financial footing, and the proposed PGP goes some way in supporting that.
From a Bath Rugby perspective we continue with our commitment to investing in the highest quality coaches and staff, together with world-class players alongside home-grown talent developed in our academy (our academy has been assessed by Premiership Rugby as being the most productive of all.
Premiership clubs). The funding from the PGP, together with income from central broadcast and sponsorship deals managed by Premiership Rugby, continue to play a critical role in our business plans for the Club.
Another key pillar of our plans to be self-sustaining over the medium term is the delivery of an exceptional new stadium at the Rec in the heart of Bath. Our stadium development proposals remain with the council’s planning authority, and we are waiting for formal planning responses from key stakeholder consultees. Once again, thank you to everyone for your positive comments of support. We hope to be before a planning committee sometime in the new year and we will of course keep you informed.
Rugby has been lucky to enjoy the support of passionate and generous individuals over the years, none more so than Bill Vasilieff. I was deeply saddened to learn of Bill’s sudden passing earlier this month.
A proud Scotsman, Bill was a lifelong Bath Rugby supporter and in his role as Chief Executive of Novia Financial – the company he founded – he was the driving force behind Novia’s title sponsorship of Bath Rugby over a number of years. Bill also raised considerable sums for the Bath Rugby Foundation and was a significant figure across Bath as well as the City. On a personal note, I always enjoyed Bill’s dry wit, he was always great company, and I have some great memories from European games away. Bill will be missed deeply.
My thoughts and those of everyone at the club go to Bill’s wife, Chris, his family, and friends.
Bill was so excited about the future of the Blue, Black and White and would have loved nothing more than a classic battle like this weekend’s game against Exeter.
Thank you as ever for your loyal and passionate support.
COYB!
Best wishes, Tarquin.