Bath clinch Premiership title with 23-21 win in final against Leicester

Bath Rugby 23-21 Leicester Tigers, Twickenham

Bath Rugby ended a 29-year wait for league glory by defeating Leicester Tigers 23–21 in a tense Premiership final at Twickenham on June 14, 2025.

With this win, Bath completed an extraordinary treble, having already lifted the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup earlier in the season.

From the outset, the match delivered high-stakes drama. Leicester were the first to strike, with scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet crossing the line after a sharp attacking move.

Bath, however, responded with poise and precision. Their first try came midway through the first half as tighthead prop Thomas du Toit powered over, capitalizing on a dominant forward drive.

Finn Russell then added two vital penalties, showing nerves of steel and keeping the scoreboard ticking in Bath’s favour. By the halftime whistle, Bath held a slender lead, built on structured play, set-piece dominance, and precise kicking.

The second half was a tug-of-war. Leicester sought to swing the momentum back their way, pushing Bath to the edge through sustained phases and tactical kicking. Bath’s defensive unit, led by the likes of Ted Hill and Charlie Ewels, absorbed the pressure and forced key turnovers.

A crucial moment arrived in the final ten minutes when Leicester’s Emeka Ilione finished off a driving maul to score, reducing the margin to just two points at 23–21.

The pressure mounted when Dan Cole was shown a yellow card in the closing minutes for repeated infringements, leaving Leicester a man down as the clock ticked away.

Bath, composed and tactically astute, managed possession and territory expertly in the final phases. They slowed down the game, controlled the breakdown, and ran the clock with calm execution. The final whistle triggered an outpouring of emotion from the Bath players and fans, as the club sealed its first Premiership title since 1996.

Historic Achievement

Bath's treble is a rare and remarkable feat in English rugby. Their journey from bottom-of-the-table struggles just three years ago to lifting three trophies in a single season is a story of vision, rebuilding, and relentless effort.

Head coach Johann van Graan, who took over in 2022, has been the architect of this turnaround.

From recruiting key players like Finn Russell and Thomas du Toit to instilling a gritty, winning mindset, van Graan’s methods have transformed Bath into the powerhouse they once were in the 1980s and early 1990s.

For Leicester, the defeat marks a valiant campaign that fell just short. Under Michael Cheika, the Tigers had clawed their way into the final and nearly snatched it in the dying minutes. Emotional farewells were bid to stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, making the occasion even more poignant for the Tigers faithful.