15 December, 2025, 3:14 am Central - 23°C Rain

Bath end 29-year wait for Premiership title

Bath end 29-year wait for Premiership title

By Navitalai Naivalurua
15/06/2025

Bath held off resilient Leicester Tigers to win their first Premiership title in 29 years with a narrow 23-21 victory at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham this morning.

The tense triumph crowns Bath as champions of England for the seventh time in their history but the first since 1996.

They were the trailblazing team in the league this season and went into the final as overwhelming favourites after finishing 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Bath captain Ben Spencer says he could not be prouder of the team.

He says they had to dig deep, but he thinks they deserved it after the year they’ve had.

Jack van Poortvliet gave Leicester an early lead, but Thomas du Toit's try and another from Max Ojomoh - created by Finn Russell's show-stopping interception - pushed Bath 13 points ahead.

Solomone Kata pulled back a crucial try for the Tigers, but when departing Leicester legend Dan Cole was sent to the sin-bin with 11 minutes to go, Russell slotted a second penalty.

Tigers still had something in the tank, and Emeka Ilione's try five minutes from time set up a grandstand finish, but Bath held on.

Bath also became the first English team since opponents Leicester in 2001 to seal a treble after winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup earlier this season.

Leicester captain Julian Montoya, who is among a host of players leaving the club this summer, said it was an honour to be a Tiger.

He says they are disappointed because they wanted that trophy, and today, they were not good enough for moments of the game.

FNRL
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