Bath are one of the most successful clubs in England and have produced some of the most talented players of the post-War era.

Founded in 1865, Bath are one of the oldest clubs in the world, but it was not until the 1983-84 season that they won their first trophy - the National Cup.

That victory at Twickenham over Bristol was to be the first of four successive Cup titles and sparked a decade of domination.

The man credited for bringing glory to the Recreation Ground was then-coach Jack Rowell, who put together a formidable side mixed with power and guile.

In 1987 the English game adopted a league format and despite finishing fourth in Division One in the inaugural season, Bath soon began to accumulate titles.

With talents like Richard Hill, Stuart Barnes and Andy Robinson, Bath completed the League and Cup double in 1988-89, the first of four double-winning seasons.

The onset of professionalism and the departure of Rowell coincided with the end of Bath's dominance. However, in 1998 Bath became the first British club to win the European Cup after defeating French club Brive.

Bath narrowly avoided relegation in the 2002-03 season, but appointed John Connolly as head coach for the following season and finished top of the League, only to be defeated by Wasps in the play-off final.

While clubs like London Wasps and Leicester Tigers went on to dominate in the late 1990s and 2000, Bath nevertheless remain one of England's most formidable teams.