Quarter-final place confirmed for Team Bath men’s 1st XV despite heavy BUCS Super Rugby derby defeat to Hartpury

Team Bath men’s 1st XV had their place in the end-of-season knockout competition confirmed on Wednesday, despite suffering a heavy BUCS Super Rugby away defeat to local rivals Hartpury.

A defeat for Cardiff University in their derby against Cardiff Met mathematically ensured that the Blue & Gold – who are sponsored by Fulkers Bailey Russell – cannot be caught in eighth place.

They are now set to face newly-crowned league champions Durham in the quarter-finals later this month but they have one more fixture before then, a home match against Leeds Beckett on Wednesday, March 4 (6.30pm kick-off, free to watch).

Team Bath, who are also supported by Rengen Developments, will be looking for an instant response to a bitterly disappointing evening at Hartpury where, despite only trailing 7-0 at the end of a well-contested first half, they conceded eight second-half tries and were beaten 57-0.