As the “noughties” moved into the “teens”, Avon’s prowess continued to grow with Kai Harwood now captaining the side for a record 5th successive year and new youngsters emerging such as Sam Rowlands, Jake Dixon, Ross Atherton to supplement now established players like Des Bowden, Ian Burnell and Chris Sawyer. Avon’s rise seemed almost inexorable at this time as they reached the final of the Bath Cup before losing out to a strong Bath University side before then winning the Bath Combination Plate for the 4th time in 5 years in 2011-12.

This success was topped in the same year as Avon enjoyed a purple patch, becoming Champions of Somerset Premier by winning 23 out of 24 matches, with Sam Rowlands scoring a record 353 points during the season (including 21 tries, whilst Des Bowden topped the charts with 29). This ensured promotion to the Western Counties league, the highest ever league status in Avon’s proud history.

These achievements were endorsed as Avon went on to win a series of awards – after winning rugby team of the month twice and rugby team of the year, Avon also won the Bath Chronicle “Senior Club of the Year” at a prestigious awards ceremony for all sports clubs at Bath Racecourse. Clive Book was also runner up as the city-wide Sports Coach of the Year, whilst he later went on to win the Bath Rugby Club “Spirit of Rugby Award”. Meanwhile, the following year, Kai Harwood was selected as the Bath Chronicle’s “Senior Player of the Year”

After a year of consolidation in Western Counties North during their first season after promotion, Avon went on to finish a creditable 6th in 2014. The following year, Avon reached 5th to achieve the highest position in the Club’s league history, competing against town sides like Cheltenham, Stroud and Cirencester and some strong Bristol teams. During this period, Kai Harwood clocked up his 10th successive year as Club Captain before being forced to retire through injury.

Off the field, the VIPs scheme was launched to help raise funds for special projects and to reconnect former players with the Club. Improvements also continued in the clubhouse and on the grounds. Avon started to host the Bath Summer Touch League each year but unfortunately lost two more stalwarts in Bill Mutlow and Fred Kyte.

The Minis section was resurrected after having suffered from falling numbers and the Under 16s became the last prominent youth team to make the progression into senior rugby, featuring amongst others Xander Hall-Davis and Miles Reid who subsequently became a valuable member of the Bath Rugby team. In another youth development, Andie Parry started his voluntary coaching sessions at the 5 local primary schools in our “eastern cluster” and organised an annual Schools Tag Festival at Hicks Field. Our Minis were grateful for a significant donation towards playing kit and equipment from the Bath Hospitals Cricket Club, triggered by Avon stalwart Wilbur Whetten.

Eventually after 5 years in Western Counties, we dropped back down a level, where we finished in 3rd place in Somerset Premier in 2018. After 3 years as Club Captain and over 350 1st team games, Scott Book handed over the reins to brother Kane. A raft of new players, such as Jonny Batchelor, Kiddie Sheikh, Iain Parris, Dan Griffin, Tom Boreham and Escher le Duc boosted our resources to add to regulars Ian Burnell, Ollie Flight, Zak Harwood, Sam Book and Rob Fitch.

As the decade drew to a close, Avon secured a significant grant from Sport England which, alongside VIP contributions and Club funds, helped to finance the installation of a new fibreglass roof for the clubhouse. Then Covid-19 struck, which caused the 2019-2020 season to be abandoned.