European Cup record

Bath were crowned European champions in 1998 after scraping a 19-18 win over CA Brive, with Jon Callard notching all the English side’s points at Bordeaux’s Stade Lescure. That remains the only time Bath have reached the final. The only other occasion they qualified for the last four was in 2006, but they lost 18-9 to Biarritz Olympique at the Estadio Anoeta.

Last season

A pulsating encounter with Scarlets at The Recreation Ground ended in a 23-19 loss in Bath’s opening game of last season’s Heineken Champions Cup and with remaining fixtures disrupted by coronavirus, they dropped into the Challenge Cup. Wins at Zebre Parma (35-27) and at home to London Irish (26-13) saw them reach the semi-finals, where they were beaten at The Rec by eventual winners Montpellier Hérault Rugby (19-10).

Director of rugby

Stuart Hooper took over the role in 2019, having made 41 European appearances for Bath in eight seasons before being forced by injury to retire in 2016 and then serving three years as performance and player development director. The former lock also played for Saracens and Leeds Carnegie.

Key players

Bath have an abundance of back-row talent at their disposal, with England flanker Sam Underhill and British and Irish Lion No.8 Taulupe Faletau the leading lights. Experienced fly-half Danny Cipriani joined from Gloucester Rugby this summer, while there is further England international talent among the backs in wing Anthony Watson and centre Jonathan Joseph.

Pool fixtures

Bath’s Heineken Champions Cup campaign kicks off with a trip to four-time European champions Leinster Rugby on December 11, before they host last season’s beaten finalists, Stade Rochelais, a week later. They then travel to the French side on January 15, with the visit of Leinster on January 22 rounding off their Pool A fixtures.

Bath Rugby are the next 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup side to be previewed as they gun for a second triumph in European club rugby’s elite competition.