Apples picked by Bath Rugby players from trees at the club’s Farleigh House training ground have been used to make a special edition cider by Thatchers to mark the renewal of their sponsorship deal.
The 2019/20 rugby campaign marks an eighth year of partnership between the club and the fourth-generation Somerset cidermakers. 
The trees were planted at Farleigh House when the sponsorship deal started back in 2011. Now they are bearing fruit to the Premiership club and the cider maker’s ongoing relationship.
Under the partnership agreement, which has been renewed for the next three years, Thatchers will retain exclusive pouring rights for its Gold and Haze ciders, along with naming rights to the North Stand at The Rec and prominent branding on the back of the players’ match shirts.
Thatchers, which is based at Sandford near Weston-super-Mare, will also continue to be a key part of the matchday experience as the official cider at The Rec while supporting milestone activations such as The Clash – Bath Rugby’s showpiece fixture at Twickenham in April.
Thatchers has made a limited run of just 120 bottles of Farleigh Cider, which will be signed by the squad and auctioned. All proceeds will be donated to the Bath Rugby Foundation and Thatchers Foundation to help raise money to support local communities across Somerset.
Thatchers farm manager Chris Muntz-Torres, who supervised the picking session, described 5.5% abv Farleigh Cider as “a fantastic union of varieties”.
He added: “It’s been great to get the players involved with helping us make Farleigh Cider, from picking the apples to giving the cider their seal of approval.
“The apples at Farleigh House have made a really interesting blend of cider and one that we’re sure will be enjoyed.”
Thatchers head cidermaker, Richard Johnson, who joined the players at a special tasting session, said: “Like a scrum, the apples used are a blend of strength and guile and all have their unique contribution. Pour this cider into your favourite cup and let it tackle your taste buds!”
Bath Rugby chief commercial officer Ben Wells added: “Bath Rugby and Thatchers both have strong roots in Somerset, but we also share ambitions to grow nationally. 
“We’re proud to support Thatchers in becoming one of the UK’s leading cider brands and are thrilled to continue the relationship with a partner with whom we share many values. It’s also great news for our supporters that they can continue to enjoy Thatchers throughout the next three seasons.”
Thatchers managing director Martin Thatcher said toasting the partnership with its own special edition cider was a really exciting experience.
“For the Bath Rugby players to have been involved in picking the apples, tasting the cider as it was being made, and now being able to auction the cider in aid of good causes, has been a great way to mark the special relationship we have with the club. This is a cider that’s been eight years in the making.”
Bath Rugby Foundation aims to empower vulnerable children and young people in Bath and the surrounding area by using rugby’s core values such as respect, enjoyment, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship to help develop them mentally and physically.
The Thatchers Foundation was set up to say ‘thank you’ and give something back to the communities of North Somerset. It embarks on fundraising activities to support organisations, groups and individuals such as the Avon & Somerset Search & Rescue team to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity among others.
Thatchers is a long-standing supporter of sport across the West of England and, increasingly, nationally. It is the official cider of Gloucestershire and Somerset County Cricket Clubs, Bristol Rovers and Yeovil Town football clubs and Bristol Bears rugby.
It was also the official cider this summer’s ICC Cricket World Cup with exclusive pouring rights for its Thatchers Gold and Thatchers Haze brands in all 11 venues during the six-week long tournament.
Pictured top: Bath Rugby players Charlie Ewels, Will Chudley, Mike Williams with Martin Thatcher and Eleanor Thatcher
Pictured bottom: Picking the apples at Farleigh House. Bath Rugby players Elliott Stooke and Chris Cook with coach Luke Charteris
