Latest news with #VanGraan
Rhyl Journal
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Bath ‘don't feel any burden' in Premiership final
Having finished 11 points clear of the Tigers at the top of the regular-season table, Bath then saw off rivals Bristol to secure a return to the Allianz Stadium, where they were edged out 25-21 by Northampton last year. Van Graan's side ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup before then winning the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff. Full of belief that the best is yet to come 🙏 Are you ready to stand tall with the Blue, Black and White? — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 12, 2025 Bath last won the league in 1996, fishing top of the table ahead of Leicester by just one point for the Somerset's club's sixth title in a decade of dominance. Despite the long wait to again be crowned England's best, Van Graan – who took over at The Recreation Ground ahead of the 2022-23 season having left Munster – insists his side remain focused on writing their own chapter by completing what would be a memorable treble. 'When I joined Bath, you look at the history, the tradition, you read up on the club, and you see that this club at a time was was incredibly successful, specifically through the 1980s and the 90s,' the South African coach said. The last time they lifted the Premiership Rugby trophy 🏆 🛁 @BathRugby – 1996 🐯 @LeicesterTigers – 2022 Who will take the title this weekend?#GallagherPremFinal — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 11, 2025 'One thing that we all did together is we respect our history, but we started the club at zero in our minds on July 11, 2022. 'We respect everybody and everything that has gone before, but for us, it has been a journey of the last three years. 'It is all about this circle and this group of people, whilst loving the people that support this club. 'Ultimately, you do sport because you want to belong to something – and we belong to this club at this stage of our different journeys. 'This is an amazing club with an amazing support base, and we are very proud of that. We are very proud that we can belong to, and for, this group. 'It is another moment in time and we have got an amazing opportunity. There is no expectation and we don't feel any burden. 'The only thing we feel is each other and inside of that circle, and that is what we are doing.' Bath thrashed Leicester 43-15 in May, scoring seven tries, having also won at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in September. Van Graan, though, has warned against any sense of complacency at Twickenham, which will be the last game in charge for Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and for Leicester stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs ahead of their retirement. 'It is definitely a stand-alone fixture,' van Graan said. The WHY. — Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 12, 2025 'Obviously, you do your homework and you look at what's worked for you, what didn't, what worked for them, what didn't. 'You look at every game in a different way but a final is so unique, it is the last game of the season for both clubs. 'Leicester is a club we respect but ultimately it's about our performance and what we need to do, so that's been the sole focus for us this week. 'It has been about 'how can we get better?' Our process is something that's worked well for us, so we are going to stick to what we do.' 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦'𝐬 𝐮𝐩 🔥🏆 One more battle. Let's do this 👊 — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 13, 2025 Van Graan named his starting XV on Friday afternoon, with two changes from the side which beat Bristol. Thomas du Toit comes into the front row while Miles Reid slots in at number eight. The backs are unchanged from last weekend's semi-final, with captain Ben Spencer and Finn Russell combining at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
France 24
13-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Bath 'don't feel burden' of history in Premiership final
Having finished 11 points clear of the Tigers at the top of the regular-season table, Bath saw off rivals Bristol to secure a return to Twickenham, where they were edged out 25-21 by Northampton last year. Van Graan's side ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup before winning the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff. Bath, one of the traditional powerhouses of English rugby, last won the league in 1996 for their sixth title in a decade of dominance. But former Munster coach Van Graan said his men remain focused on writing their own chapter by completing what would be a memorable treble. "When I joined Bath, you look at the history, the tradition, you read up on the club, and you see that this club at a time was incredibly successful, specifically through the 1980s and the 90s," said the South African. "One thing that we all did together is we respect our history, but we started the club at zero in our minds on July 11, 2022 (when he joined the club). "We respect everybody and everything that has gone before, but for us it has been a journey of the last three years. "It is all about this circle and this group of people, whilst loving the people that support this club." He added: "It is another moment in time and we have got an amazing opportunity. There is no expectation and we don't feel any burden. "The only thing we feel is each other and inside of that circle, and that is what we are doing." Bath hammered Leicester 43-15 in May to complete a league double over their historic rivals. But Van Graan has warned against complacency at Twickenham, which will be the last game in charge for Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and for Leicester stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs ahead of their retirement. "It is definitely a stand-alone fixture," he said. "Obviously, you do your homework and you look at what's worked for you, what didn't, what worked for them, what didn't. "You look at every game in a different way but a final is so unique, it is the last game of the season for both clubs." © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Master motivators put 90s chart-toppers Bath and Leicester back on Premiership final stage
It has been a while but the old firm of English club rugby are finally back. Between 1978 and 1997 Bath and Leicester collectively won 15 national knockout trophies and over the first 15 years of the league's existence they claimed 12 titles between them. Their reunion at Twickenham is akin to those other 90s chart-toppers, Oasis and Blur, dusting down their favourite guitars and appearing on stage together. The temptation is to dive head first into a foaming tub of nostalgia and wallow in the rekindled rivalry. If anyone had predicted in 1996 that Bath would not win another domestic title in the next 29 years they would have been laughed out of the convivial old Rec clubhouse. Leicester, similarly, thought the ABC Club and the Tigers' steely winning mentality would live for ever. Advertisement Related: Super Ted or Superman? Hill's 'different game' key for Bath in Premiership final It is the here and now, though, that really matters in a grand final week. And how interesting that it has taken a South African and an Australian, neither of whom played Test rugby, to bring the good times rolling back to two famous English institutions. At first glance the outwardly calm, process-oriented Johann van Graan and the more animated Michael Cheika might not appear to have much in common. But drill a little deeper and the renaissance of their respective teams has been built on broadly the same tenets. Both are widely travelled family men who have long since understood that coaching is ultimately about people. And, specifically, about channelling the power of the collective, not least psychologically. Both have also looked beyond rugby's normal tramlines for inspiration. Cheika, born in Sydney to Lebanese immigrants, used to run a successful fashion distribution business, which he says taught him plenty about how to manage and operate under pressure. And did you know that Bath's rise has been partly shaped by the best strategic minds in the US army? Van Graan, it emerges, has made multiple visits to the US Military Academy at West Point, just up the Hudson River from New York, to discover how real combatants prepare for battle. 'I often think about what I've learned there,' he said this week. 'We speak a lot about war in training but I go to learn from guys who are actually in a war. I remember this one platoon leader taking us into a little restaurant and giving me live examples of training and battle and how the two differ.' Advertisement Van Graan's attention to detail has also taken him to several NFL teams including the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins. The 45-year-old has also embraced the vision of continual improvement embedded in Japanese Kaizen culture and tapped into the benefits of mind-and-body yoga. At half-time in the dressing room, before a single coaching message is imparted, Bath's players collectively take a deliberate yoga-style deep breath to help bring them back in sync. 'Obviously rugby's a very emotional game and when you're in the middle of the battle it can be hard bringing yourself back to a calm state,' says Miles Reid, one of several local Bath boys yearning to bring the league title back to their rugby-centric home city. 'Before a message is delivered in our huddles we take a breath. It just gets us all on the same page. It calms us down and then you're clearer and more receptive.' Bath's second-half surge against Bristol Bears in last Friday's semi-final would suggest it is working. As with his native Springboks, for whom Van Graan worked as an assistant between 2012 and 2017, Bath also possess a 'bomb squad' bench who blow most opponents away. Van Graan will also tell you that relaying the infamously muddy pitch at the Rec – ironically after a narrow defeat by Leicester – has been even more vital to Bath's resurgence, finally suiting the all-court brand of rugby they wanted to play. The Tigers have not had the luxury of Bruce Craig's generous financial backing. Having won the title against the odds in 2022, they trailed in eighth in the table last year and Cheika's tenure will span only one year. As recently as January they contrived to concede 80 points to Toulouse, forcing their resident Australian wizard to dig into his box of motivational tricks. He has plenty of them: among his more famous ploys was handing out engraved golf clubs to each member of his Waratahs squad before their Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in 2014. He wanted to encourage them to have a swing and not have any regrets. The Waratahs duly beat a strong Crusaders side 33-32. The 58-year-old Australian has not yet been spotted in any pro shops this week but, whether it be through tone, body language or symbolic messaging, he will unquestionably have Leicester pumped up for the big one. 'He's obviously unbelievable in terms of the strategic side,' says England's Ollie Chessum, set to embark on his first Lions tour next week. 'You don't get as far as he has in rugby without having that rugby IQ. But for me he just finds a way to galvanise the group and get them to find a real meaning in what they're doing. We've probably not learned too much technically that we didn't already know but what's really changed this year is around that mental and emotional side of the game. Cheik's incredibly good at finding a way to motivate boys. He'll also say that just believing you can do it makes a huge difference.' Advertisement Leicester, even so, will require something special to stop a team who are chasing a trophy treble, having already landed the Challenge Cup and Premiership Cup. Not only do Bath have the baton-twirling Finn Russell but they have impressive power and pace across the field. Even without the injured Ollie Lawrence, Van Graan's multifaceted squad is finally well placed to reward Craig's investment. Then again the white-shirted Tigers will be feeling an emotional surge as they bid farewell to, among others, their retiring legends Ben Youngs and Dan Cole. 'It's sad seeing Coley retire,' says Joe Heyes, his front-row teammate. 'Lenny too. They've been a huge part of this club. We want to send them off in the right way.' Chessum, increasingly influential for club and country, is another believer. 'When we've needed it most in the last five, six weeks the squad has really clicked. As Cheik says, we've been playing under pressure for quite a few weeks now.' Or, to quote Cheika himself: 'When the opportunity's there you'd be mad not to take it, wouldn't you?' But Bath and Van Graan have not come this far to abandon their process now and lose a second consecutive Premiership final. If they can crack the title code it may just be the first of many.
Daily Maverick
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Van Graan's success in England highlights depth of SA coaching talent
Bath coach Johann van Graan is the latest in a long line of South Africans who have taken their skills to the next level. Ten years ago, SA Rugby was looking to extend the Springbok coaching team's contracts for another four-year cycle. Even at that stage, there were whispers that a young and relatively green Johann van Graan might succeed head coach Heyneke Meyer after the 2019 World Cup, just as Steve Hansen – one of the most decorated coaches of all time – had succeeded Graham Henry after an eight-year stint as an All Blacks assistant. Then the Boks lost to Japan in the 2015 World Cup pool match staged in Brighton. While the team managed to rebound, losing 20-18 to the All Blacks in the semifinals, Meyer was forced out before the end of the year. Van Graan was retained as an attack and forwards specialist by new coach Allister Coetzee, until the team suffered a series of embarrassing losses in 2016 and 2017. SA Rugby recalled Rassie Erasmus from Ireland, and Erasmus recommended that Van Graan fill the void at Munster. After spending more than a decade as an assistant coach at the Bulls and Boks, Van Graan was finally at the helm of a major team. Talk of the town This story is about Erasmus as much as Van Graan, and about every other coach who expands their skillset and worldview after spending some time overseas. By the time Erasmus left South Africa in 2016, he had already coached the Cheetahs and the Stormers. By his own admission, he grew a great deal during his two-year stint at Munster, to the point where he had the tools to rebuild South African rugby in 2018 and lead the Boks to back-to-back World Cup titles in later years. Meanwhile, Van Graan spent five challenging seasons with Munster, before accepting an offer to join Bath in 2022. Bath were struggling to compete in the English Premiership at that stage, and there was some fierce opposition to the appointment of a South African coach. Fortunately, the club's owner Bruce Craig recognised Van Graan's talent, and backed his vision to revive the west country club. Fast forward to the present, where Van Graan is the talk of the town and Bath are the best team in England. Having won over the skeptics with the signing of the world's best attacking flyhalf Finn Russell, Van Graan has also made good on his promise to deliver results. Since losing the Premiership final last year, Bath have won the relatively minor Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup titles. In doing so, they have ended a 17-year wait for silverware. Now there is talk of Bath completing 'the treble'. The Premiership final will be staged at Twickenham this Saturday, and Bath will face Leicester Tigers – who count Handré Pollard, one of Van Graan's former protégés, among their ranks. Bath haven't won the Premiership since 1996, and it's fair to say that this title matters a great deal more than the other two. Speak to the people on the ground, and they will tell you how Van Graan has transformed the club with his tactical innovations and values, and how the team's success has had an impact on a rugby-mad city. Win or lose this Saturday, there's bound to be a documentary along the lines of Chasing the Sun in the works, as Bath's rise from the bottom to the top of the Prem is one hell of a story. What's more, the South African rugby community is starting to take note. Suddenly Van Graan is being touted as a potential successor to Erasmus. The Bok coach's contract expires after the 2027 World Cup, and it's unclear whether he will push on for another four years. Van Graan is committed to Bath until 2030 – but has spoken about his dream to coach the Boks, and if the opportunity arose, he probably wouldn't turn it down. Given all he's learnt and achieved over the past two decades, the Boks would be lucky to have him. Wider coaching pool stronger than ever While some of the local franchises are struggling for results, the wider coaching pool is deeper and stronger than ever. On the same day that Van Graan leads Bath into battle against Leicester, two former Bok coaches will go head-to-head in the United Rugby Championship final in Dublin. Like Erasmus, Jacques Nienaber has given a lot to South African rugby over the years. After taking on the role of head coach in 2020, Nienaber– along with Erasmus – led the Boks to a series victory against the British & Irish Lions and to a second consecutive World Cup title. Following the victory in 2023, he took up a new coaching challenge with Leinster, one of the leading clubs in world rugby. There are rumours that Nienaber may return to the Bok set-up in the coming years, and again, the team would be lucky to have him. Having spent a few years in the Irish system and a lot closer to other leading teams in Europe, Nienaber will have valuable information to share with a South African group that is looking to evolve. Jake White, another World Cup-winning coach, doesn't get enough credit for what he's done at the Bulls over the past five years. While the Bulls are the most successful South African franchise in history, there was a period in the mid-to-late 2010s when the entire organisation was in free-fall. An equity deal with Johann Rupert and Patrice Motsepe was an important step forward, but it took a seasoned director of rugby to rebuild the structures and team culture. Resources matter in professional sport, and there will always be a comparison between the haves and have-nots. What's interesting, of course, is a comparison between two of the richer South African franchises – the Bulls and Sharks. One cannot help but look at the two squads and their contrasting results over the past few seasons, and conclude that the Bulls have the better coaching and organisational set-up. Spoiled for choice Erasmus enjoyed brief stints with the Bok coaching group in 2007 and 2011, before taking on a full-time post in 2018. By the end of the 2027 World Cup, he will have been in the job for 10 consecutive years – and may look beyond the Boks for a new challenge. The big question is whether SA Rugby will promote a head coach from within their present structures, or appoint another candidate who is excelling at home or abroad. There was some speculation about Mzwandile Stick or Deon Davids succeeding Nienaber after the 2023 World Cup, before Erasmus confirmed that he would be stepping down as director of rugby to focus on the head coach role. Stick and Davids both coached in South Africa prior to joining the Bok set-up, and have spent a lot of time in the current system. As was the case with Hansen succeeding Henry at the All Blacks in 2012, one of these coaches may succeed Erasmus in 2028, if SA Rugby is looking for a seamless transition. When one considers how Erasmus himself came to the position after working with Munster, and how the likes of Nienaber, Van Graan, White and others broadened their horizons since their first experience with the Boks, an external candidate may be the better option. Johan Ackermann rebuilt the Lions from the ground up in the 2010s, before pursuing opportunities in England and Japan. Franco Smith coached the Cheetahs and was part of the Bok set-up in 2017, and has since gone on to coach Italy and the Glasgow Warriors (who won the 2024 United Rugby Championship). Perhaps the fact that the Boks have so many options is the point. It was only two years ago, when there were reports about Erasmus exploring a coaching opportunity with the England national team, that the local community was faced with the uncomfortable truth. Erasmus won't be around forever, and he cannot be replaced. Much has changed since then, however, and when you look at the number and indeed the quality of candidates, you're inclined to believe that – whatever the choice – the future of South African rugby will be in capable hands. DM
South Wales Guardian
13-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Bath ‘don't feel any burden' in Premiership final
Having finished 11 points clear of the Tigers at the top of the regular-season table, Bath then saw off rivals Bristol to secure a return to the Allianz Stadium, where they were edged out 25-21 by Northampton last year. Van Graan's side ended the club's 17-year trophy drought earlier in the campaign by lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup before then winning the European Challenge Cup last month with victory over Lyon in Cardiff. Full of belief that the best is yet to come 🙏 Are you ready to stand tall with the Blue, Black and White? — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 12, 2025 Bath last won the league in 1996, fishing top of the table ahead of Leicester by just one point for the Somerset's club's sixth title in a decade of dominance. Despite the long wait to again be crowned England's best, Van Graan – who took over at The Recreation Ground ahead of the 2022-23 season having left Munster – insists his side remain focused on writing their own chapter by completing what would be a memorable treble. 'When I joined Bath, you look at the history, the tradition, you read up on the club, and you see that this club at a time was was incredibly successful, specifically through the 1980s and the 90s,' the South African coach said. The last time they lifted the Premiership Rugby trophy 🏆 🛁 @BathRugby – 1996 🐯 @LeicesterTigers – 2022 Who will take the title this weekend?#GallagherPremFinal — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 11, 2025 'One thing that we all did together is we respect our history, but we started the club at zero in our minds on July 11, 2022. 'We respect everybody and everything that has gone before, but for us, it has been a journey of the last three years. 'It is all about this circle and this group of people, whilst loving the people that support this club. 'Ultimately, you do sport because you want to belong to something – and we belong to this club at this stage of our different journeys. 'This is an amazing club with an amazing support base, and we are very proud of that. We are very proud that we can belong to, and for, this group. 'It is another moment in time and we have got an amazing opportunity. There is no expectation and we don't feel any burden. 'The only thing we feel is each other and inside of that circle, and that is what we are doing.' Bath thrashed Leicester 43-15 in May, scoring seven tries, having also won at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium in September. Van Graan, though, has warned against any sense of complacency at Twickenham, which will be the last game in charge for Tigers head coach Michael Cheika and for Leicester stalwarts Dan Cole and Ben Youngs ahead of their retirement. 'It is definitely a stand-alone fixture,' van Graan said. The WHY. — Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 12, 2025 'Obviously, you do your homework and you look at what's worked for you, what didn't, what worked for them, what didn't. 'You look at every game in a different way but a final is so unique, it is the last game of the season for both clubs. 'Leicester is a club we respect but ultimately it's about our performance and what we need to do, so that's been the sole focus for us this week. 'It has been about 'how can we get better?' Our process is something that's worked well for us, so we are going to stick to what we do.' 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦'𝐬 𝐮𝐩 🔥🏆 One more battle. Let's do this 👊 — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 13, 2025 Van Graan named his starting XV on Friday afternoon, with two changes from the side which beat Bristol. Thomas du Toit comes into the front row while Miles Reid slots in at number eight. The backs are unchanged from last weekend's semi-final, with captain Ben Spencer and Finn Russell combining at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
