Bath Rugby to Leave The Rec Early as Stadium Build Accelerates
Bath Rugby will play their final two home matches of the 2025-26 season away from The Rec, sacrificing their home-ground advantage in the run-in to speed up construction of their new 18,000-capacity stadium.
Chief executive Tarquin McDonald broke the news in an open letter to supporters, confirming that the fixtures against Harlequins (weekend of May 15) and Saracens (June 5) will be relocated. Should Bath secure a home semi-final, that match would also move away from the Recreation Ground — the riverside ground the club has called home since the 19th century. The club's last scheduled home game at The Rec this season will be against the Newcastle Red Bulls on the weekend of April 17. (BBC Sport)
The reason is construction logistics. Bath want their new stadium — a permanent replacement for the current temporary stands — ready for the start of the 2028/9 season. An accelerated phasing plan shortens the overall build to roughly 18 months, and the club now intends to start with the East Stand rather than the West, submitting a planning amendment to that effect. The overall design remains unchanged from the scheme approved by Bath and North East Somerset Council. (Bath Rugby)
The new stadium, designed by Grimshaw architects, will lower the heights of both the East and West Stands by a total of 5.1 metres compared to earlier proposals — a concession to the sensitive World Heritage setting of a city centre site. The updated design retains mature trees along the riverside, includes a 550-space car park, and will feature a hybrid playing surface that combines natural grass with synthetic fibres for durability. (Bath Rugby)
For supporters, the trade-off is real. Bath finished second in the 2025-26 Gallagher Premiership regular-season table with 69 points, 13 wins and a points difference of +222 — the kind of form that turns a home semi-final from possibility into genuine expectation. Giving up that fixture, if it comes, means playing the biggest match of the season on neutral or borrowed turf rather than at the compact, atmospheric ground where opposition teams have historically found little comfort. (Bath Rugby)
The club's next competitive outing is away to Sale Sharks on September 6 at CorpAcq Stadium, kicking off at 14:00. (Bath Rugby)
The broader arc is one fans have followed for years. The Recreation Ground has hosted Bath since 1894, but its temporary stands have long been a source of frustration for a club with title ambitions. A permanent home has been the goal across multiple planning iterations. The decision to accelerate the build signals a willingness to absorb short-term pain — surrendering late-season home matches in a competitive campaign — for a long-term gain the club believes is worth it.
