Former professional rugby player Tom Doughty (BSc Sports Performance 2019) on how Bath’s rugby programme shaped his career.
This interview was originally conducted as part of our BA2 magazine feature, Inside Bath’s rugby machine, out now.
Take us back to the beginning. When did you first start playing rugby?
I played from a very young age at my local club, Hove RFC. I went through the local club route: club, school, county. I was with the Harlequins development programme for a while, but they released me when I was about 14. When you get dropped from a programme like that, you think your rugby career is over.
But I continued playing for club and county, played for Southeast England and then England Counties, and it was actually from there that I thought university rugby could be a route back into the professional game.
Did the rugby programme influence your decision to choose Bath?
Definitely. For me, going to university was a pathway to get into professional rugby. I’d spoken to Aaron James (Head of Rugby), and he sold me the programme, explaining how they were trying to make the programme more professional, and the potential link-up with Bath Rugby. I saw it as a good avenue to get some exposure and be seen by a Premiership club.
What was the programme like when you arrived?
It was my first taste of being in a proper programme — more than just training a couple of times a week and playing on the weekend. Training daily, gym sessions and meetings about the game every Wednesday.
It was an introduction to what a full-time programme could look like. Having access not just to the rugby coaches, but to physios and S&C coaches — there were always different avenues to try and make yourself better. I loved every aspect of it.
You were there before BUCS Super Rugby launched. How did that change things?
When BUCS Super Rugby came in, there was a lot of excitement around university rugby. The games were being live streamed on YouTube, and it suddenly felt like there were more eyes on us. It was amazing as a young player trying to make a name for himself.
You captained the side in the first BUCS Super Rugby season. What did that mean to you?
It was a massive honour. I love leading people out — it also helps my individual performance. We had a strong squad that year, a lot of boys who’d been in and around the first team for a couple of years and a good intake of new players.
We prided ourselves on being a tight-knit group. That culture — everyone supporting everyone, no matter what team you were in — was something Aaron James built from the top and the senior players carried forward.
How would you describe the coaching at Bath?
Honestly, Aaron is one of the best people I’ve ever met. He truly cared about everyone as human beings, not just rugby players. He used to get onto me about going to my lectures, making sure I was doing the right thing outside of rugby as well as inside it.
I’d been in clubs before and since, and everywhere you go you form good friendships and people care. But at Bath, for probably the first time, I felt that care extended beyond the pitch. He created a great culture where performance and the person were equally important. I take my hat off to him for that.
You signed for the Bath Rugby Academy in your final year while still captaining the University side. What was that period like?
I’ll be honest — I was knackered! I’d play on a Wednesday for the University, having trained with Bath Rugby on the Tuesday. Then I’d train with Bath Rugby again on the Thursday. On top of that, I was working as a bouncer a few nights a week to get some extra cash.
Some nights I’d finish work at three in the morning and be training a few hours later. If I tried to do that now, it’d probably kill me. But at the time I was young, chasing a dream, and I didn’t see it as a hardship.
Was the communication between the two sides well managed?
Really well. Everyone was very understanding. Lecturers worked with me when I couldn’t get to things because of training. And it was decided that even though I’d signed my contract, I was still going to play for the University while training with Bath Rugby.
How important was your time at Bath in making the step to professional rugby?
For me it was everything. If I hadn’t ended up at the University of Bath, under the watchful eye of Aaron James and Mark Lilley, and if they hadn’t pushed for opportunities for me with Bath Rugby — I probably wouldn’t have ended up playing professionally. I owe them loads.
What were the highlights of your professional career?
Two stand out. Making my Premiership debut — because I’d worked so hard for so long to get there. When I finally played, I ended up getting about 60 minutes because the starting hooker got injured. It was on telly, all my family and friends were watching, and I just remember thinking: after all of that, here we are. 
And then playing in Europe — against Leinster and La Rochelle, these huge clubs I used to watch. You never think you’ll get there. That was probably the peak of it.
You recently announced your retirement. How did you come to that decision?
It wasn’t easy — I’m 29. I was getting lots of injuries that I wasn’t getting before and taking longer to recover. It just came to a natural cooling.
Rugby doesn’t last forever, and I was very happy with what I’d achieved. I felt like I’d done everything I could to put myself in the best position, but other factors meant it just wasn’t going my way.
What are you doing now?
I gave myself some time off, went on a few holidays, and fell asleep on a lot of sunbeds. Then I somehow blagged myself a job in the city as an oil broker, and I’m loving it. Every day is different and exciting, and if you don’t work hard, you don’t do well, which suits my personality down to the ground.
I still help with coaching at my local club back in Hove when I can, and some of my best friends are still playing, so I’m still very connected to the rugby world. But I won’t be killing myself on the pitch anymore!
When you saw Bath win the BUCS Super Rugby title this year, what did that mean to you?
I’m incredibly happy for them. Aaron and the team have worked so hard to build the programme. They deserve every bit of recognition they’ve got this year.
Finally, what advice would you give to a student arriving at Bath this September who wants to go professional?
It doesn’t come easily. Sometimes you think you’re working hard and you’re not. I’d say for a lot of my university experience, I didn’t enjoy it like a typical student would — training and working hard towards that goal was the reason I was there. But it’s worth it. And use every bit of what Bath gives you — the coaches, the facilities, the link with Bath Rugby. Not everyone gets that.
Read more about the rugby programme at Bath in the latest edition of BA2.
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