Bath took on Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby on 2 October 2026, and the hosts ran out 40:34 winners. The match opened the new campaign for both sides, each carrying the weight of a single game played before this fixture. By then the table already told a story: Bath sat third with five points from one win, while Exeter languished seventh on a solitary point after their opening defeat.
And here's the thing about a scoreline like that — forty points to thirty-four does not always mean one side dominated. Exeter scored plenty, but Bath's attack found the gaps when it mattered. The visitors had shown they could fire, beating Cardiff 33:28 and Bristol 45:21 in September, yet this was a different kind of test. Bath's previous meeting with Exeter in June ended 26:27 in Bath's favour, and they picked up where they left off.
We had called for a home win with 69 per cent confidence before kickoff, and the result confirmed that assessment. Bath's attacking structure looked sharper, their set-piece more reliable. Exeter struggled to contain the flow, and once Bath found rhythm they did not relinquoish it. To be fair, Exeter's recent form had been erratic — losses to Gloucester and Northampton, a narrow win over Cardiff — but against the league leaders in waiting they could not hold their ground.
The standings now reflect the gap between the two clubs this season. Bath's five points put them in the upper half, while Exeter's single point from a loss means they are still searching for momentum. A fourth straight win for Bath would have been ambitious, but this opened their campaign with authority. Exeter will look to regroup; they are unbeaten in five against Bath historically, though that history means little when the present is this unforgiving.
What the result means is simple: Bath fancy their chances at the top, and Exeter have work to do. The goal difference now sits at plus six for Bath after one game, while Exeter are minus six. The Premiership will take note. This is not the end of their season, but it is a start they will want to forget.
