Bath, founded in 1865, rank among the oldest established rugby clubs in England, yet not for decades could they shake off their poor-relation status in the shadows of West Country rivals Bristol and Gloucester. Indeed, to do so required something approaching a miracle. But miracles do not ''just'' happen, they happen for a reason, or as in Bath''s case for a number of reasons. Hurdles for Bath to jump? Oh yes, plenty. Indeed, how does one even begin to define a club that by 1900 had already produced three England internationals and yet by season 1905-6 with a meagre 7 wins from 33 matches played came near to being folded-up. And who, in that same season of near despair, would ever have contemplated the transformation that would later lead Bath in season 1995-6 to be chosen to carry the Union colours against Rugby League giants Wigan (first under League rules, then Union rules) to end a century of divide between the two codes. Yet chosen Bath were!
Of course, it did
