Tyler Offiah hat-trick helps eight-try University of Bath make impressive start to BUCS Super Rugby title defence
The University of Bath began their Men’s BUCS Super Rugby league title defence with a statement 50-33 home win over old rivals Loughborough in Wednesday’s season opener at The Yard.
Man of the match Tyler Offiah – scorer of two tries when the teams met in last season’s BSR Milk Championship final – went one better with a brilliant hat-trick, while Wales U20 full-back Jack Woods bagged a brace.
Captain Will Keylock, hooker Evan Gallagher and debutant Alex Yeabsley also touched down and there were five conversions from James Linegar as the men’s 1st XV, sponsored by Bath Building Society and Rengen, got off to a strong start against their nearest challengers in both the league and cup last season.
Aaron James, Head of Rugby at the University of Bath, said: “It’s good to be able to celebrate a really good win with our fans on our home ground. There were five first years out there today and the second years looked like different players, so we are keeping that development focus too.”
Making their BUCS Super Rugby debuts were flanker Yeabsley, scrum-half Ollie Lewis, centre Cameron Ward and replacements Charlie Heard, Max Hooper and Bailey Cutts. Bath’s match day 23 also featured seven players involved in the 2025-26 BSR Milk Championship final – forwards Jacob Yates, Oscar Thomas, Diamond Ayiehfor and Isaac Sprenger, centre Jack Harrison, winger Offiah and 2026-27 captain Keylock.
The latter notched Bath’s first try of the season after seven minutes from a lineout drive and Gallagher went over from a similar move soon after, with Linegar converting both to give the hosts a superb start.
Loughborough responded with a Theo Mussell try, converted by Ben Webb, but Bath hit immediately through a moment of magic from Offiah, who was surrounded when he received the ball in midfield but exploded past four attempted tackles to touch down.
Linegar’s conversion looked to have given Bath a comfortable half-time lead but an error allowed Keanu Coetsee to touch down in injury time, with Webb’s conversion cutting the gap to 21-14.
Any fears of a Loughborough comeback were ended by three Bath tries within 12 minutes of the restart. A huge hand-off from Woods, which sent visiting scrum-half Rhys Hulse flying, set up Offiah for his second try, then Woods went over himself before a stunning line break and long pass from Jack Harrison put Yeabsley through for a debut try.
Captain Ralfie Willott burrowed over from close range for the visitors but Bath were well on top and terrific team moves were finished off by Offiah and Woods to put the hosts 50-19 up.
Loughborough secured a bonus point through late tries from Ed Harvey and Will Lamprell, both converted by Felix Champain, but Bath were full value for their win.
Next up is a trip to ambitious newcomers Brunel at Ealing Trailfinders RFC on Wednesday 30th September (7.30pm). The next match at the Team Bath Sports Training Village is a South West derby against Exeter on Wednesday 14th October (6.30pm).
Match stats
University of Bath starting XV: 1 Jacob Yates, 2 Evan Gallagher, 3 Diamond Ayiehfor, 4 Isaac Sprenger, 5 Rory McKnight, 6 Alex Yeabsley, 7 Will Keylock (c), 8 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi; 9 Ollie Lewis, 10 James Linegar, 11 Tyler Offiah, 12 Cameron Ward, 13 Jack Harrison, 14 Sam Winters, 15 Jack Woods. Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Oban Baird, 18 Henry Mountford, 19 Tom Hilton, 20 Evan Jones, 21 Charlie Heard, 22 Max Hooper, 23 Bailey Cutts.
Tries: Keylock, Gallagher, Offiah 3, Woods 2, Yeabsley.
Conversions: Linegar 5.
Loughborough starting XV: 1 Rob Docherty, 2 Ralfie Willott (c), 3 Will Lamprell, 4 Jack Murphy, 5 Taine Benson, 6 Keanu Coetsee, 7 Zander MacTaggart, 8 Ed Harvey; 9 Rhys Hulse, 10 Ben Webb, 11 Zac Finch, 12 Theo Mussell, 13 Davy Colbert, 14 Louis Nancekivell, 15 Ben Roberts. Replacements: 16 Siep Walta, 17 Owen Gillett, 18 Seva Batikora, 19 Jack Lee, 20 Seb Rodriguez-Davies, 21 Oscar Cawley, 22 Felix Champain, 23 Ben Firth.
Tries: Mussell, Coetsee, Willott, Harvey, Lamprell.
Conversions: Webb 2, Champain 2.
