Faletau's encounter with Boks costs Bath dearly
The fine is the result of the club's decision to release loose forward Taulupe Faletau to play for Wales in a Test match against South Africa outside World Rugby's international window last earlier this month.
The fine covers the length of Faletau's current contract with the club.
Faletau's contract with the club allows him to play in all internationals, even those outside the international window.
However, this is in breach of Premiership Rugby's policy around international duty – which determines that players can only be released for Tests inside the international window.
"Bath Rugby's full co-operation with the process was acknowledged and, in mitigation, it was decided to reduce the initial £90,000 sanction to £60,000, a figure that covers the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons," Premiership Rugby said in a statement.
Bath are the second club to be fined for breaching this policy – following Northampton Saints in 2013.
"This Board policy has been an essential one, especially as there has been an increasing number of international matches being organised outside the specified international weeks," Premiership Rugby statement said.
"The agreed policy is well known to clubs, players and unions."
Bath are happy to pick up the tab for breaching the policy, but said they are working hard on having it changed.
"We understand Premiership Rugby's position on this, and have subsequently worked proactively with them to swiftly achieve a fair resolution," Tarquin McDonald, the Bath Chief Executive, said.
"We believed this situation would change, that has not yet happened and we have therefore come to an appropriate settlement with Premiership Rugby.
"However, we continue to believe that there is appetite for change and that this on-going conflict between the club and international calendars is not good for players, clubs or unions.
"We continue to support the objective of a solution for the separation of club and international calendars in a way which benefits players, clubs and unions, and brings an end to situations such as this."
