Tom Dunn is a core figure at Bath Rugby. Local, fiercely loyal, committed and deeply rooted in the community, he’s more than just a player, however. He’s a symbol of resilience and pride in a club enjoying a remarkable season, says Emma Clegg.
After 15 years at Bath Rugby, hooker Tom Dunn is part of the engine of the club. Known for his frequent black eyes, bloodied ears and dogged determination, Dunn has become a symbol of grit and spirit. With over 250 club appearances, he has become one of the most dependable figures in its recent history.
Bath-born, Dunn is seen as the ultimate rugby icon for the city. He arrives – with his 18-month old chocolate labrador Tilly (who also proves very photogenic, although slightly less responsive to photographer’s cues) – with the traces of a black eye still evident, and as we walk to our coffee rendezvous, he is intercepted every few metres by friends, associates and fans.
On 14 June, Bath ended a 29-year wait by beating Leicester Tigers 23–21 at Twickenham to win the Gallagher Premiership. The finish capped off a fairytale season, with Bath also winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup. It marked the club’s first treble, and for players like Dunn the success was deeply personal.
“I don’t think I’ve fully taken in what we’ve achieved,” says Dunn. “After 15 years, I’d never won a single trophy, and now we have won all three. It’s just incredible. But it takes more than just the starting 15, or even the matchday 23. It’s the whole squad, the 25 others pushing us, the 35 support staff, the owners, the ticket sellers, the marketing team – and of course, the fans. This one’s for all of them.”
The celebrations spilled on to the streets of Bath, culminating in a jubilant gathering at The Rec. It was a cathartic release for fans, and for stalwarts like Dunn – men who have stayed loyal through years of near-misses, coaching changes and rebuilding.
“There were some darker days over the past three years. Things didn’t always go to plan. But if you look at the core of the team now, it’s actually quite similar. Going through those tough times together brought us closer. We’ve been through the lows, and now we’ve experienced the highs, together again.”
Dunn’s rugby journey began at Chippenham RFC. He joined Bath in 2012, playing as a loosehead prop before switching to hooker, all over a period of three demanding years. It paid off. He says, “I honestly don’t know if I could have cared this deeply or been this emotionally invested anywhere else. I’m Bath through and through.”
A University of Bath graduate, he signed his first long-term contract in 2016. His tenacity led to an England call-up in 2017 and a debut during the 2020 Guiness Six Nations, where England lifted the title. Dunn is modest about his capabilities. “I’m not the biggest, nor the strongest, nor the fastest, or the most skilful, but I try really hard. I won’t stop giving everything I’ve got. People joke about going to Valhalla, but for me, it’s not about talent, it’s about resilience.”
He knows his role. “From the outside, people look at the team and say, ‘Wow, it’s a really strong side.’ And it is – but the big thing this year has been the variety. You’ve got the big ball-carriers like Thomas du Toit and Will Stuart, you’ve got the skilful guys like Ben Spencer, and the real speedsters like Will Muir, Joe Cokanasiga and Ted Hill. Then there are four or five of us whose job is to hold it all together. Without that glue, the rest of the team couldn’t do what they do.”
Dunn credits much of this year’s transformation to head coach Johan van Graan. “The biggest thing Johan brought was the ability to build a group of genuinely good people. Now everyone’s completely aligned; we all care about the same things and want the same outcomes.”
He values Van Graan’s cultural approach. “There’s no ‘roll the dice’ stuff – just a simple ‘treat others how you want to be treated’. At first, I was sceptical, thought people might take advantage, but the opposite happened. Everyone bought in. That’s about his kindness and consistency.”
Dunn is already thinking about the next stage. “With success comes expectation. We’ve got a strong squad, even more depth, and of course we’d love to retain the Premiership title, but the next big goal is the Champions Cup – that’s the one that puts a star on the shirt. It’s what’s drives me to reset, refocus and get my head down again.”
After 15 years I’d never won a single trophy, and now we have won all three. It’s just incredible
Off the field, Dunn runs a thriving butchery – Kelly’s, based in Chew Magna – and co-owns a catering company, Black & White, specialising in everything from summer barbecues to hog roasts. Founded by Dave Kelly, a lifelong Bath fan, the business has evolved into a full-scale operation, complete with a thriving vegetable garden, Dexter cows and a pig called Sultan!
Despite the allure of farm life and running a food enterprise, Tom isn’t ready to hang up his boots. “Right now I’m very much enjoying playing rugby and I want to do this for as long as I can.”
He also plays a big role in the club’s charitable side, as an ambassador for the Bath Rugby Foundation and is involved with the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. “A friend of mine had a serious accident when I was 15 on the rugby pitch, and the Air Ambulance pretty much saved his life so I always back them by visiting and attending events.”
Dunn is also an ambassador for local charity Dorothy House, who support people with end-of-life care. His partner Jen, who worked in oncology before joining the team there, made the introduction. “I saw what they do there, especially through Covid when people were ill and on their own, and I realised I could help.”
Dunn is impressed by the culture of the hospice and often visits patients there. “People talk about death like it’s something to fear, but when you go and see the staff and the environment, it’s really positive,” he says. “It’s about making death a part of life.”
Dunn’s three children, eight, seven and three, all play rugby, with Tom as coach. “I coach both age groups. It’s full-on, but I wouldn’t change it.”
As for the future of the team, Dunn says, “Our squad depth is fantastic, and it’s the younger lads who are really driving that, keeping the pressure on us older guys, and honestly, I love it. They’re nipping at my heels, and that’s exactly what I need to keep going.
“The feeling I have for this club is huge. I feel a bit like a big brother to the younger Academy lads. Being part of their journey and part of this club’s story means the world to me.”
bathrugby.com; bathrugbyfoundation.com; dorothyhouse.org.uk
