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? pic.twitter.com/lF3zTIm9fJ
— 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 pic.twitter.com/Z62haNJ1Rm
— 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. pic.twitter.com/HG7cb8KJCe
— 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.
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Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Togetherness key to success, says Bath coach Van Graan
LONDON, June 14 - Bath coach Johann van Graan praised the togetherness of his club after they beat Leicester 23-21 to win the Premiership title for the first time since 1996 on Saturday, three years after finishing bottom of the league. The South African oversaw the turnaround that took Bath to the final last year, before finishing the regular season 11 points clear this year and holding off a late fightback from old rivals Leicester to secure a memorable triumph in the final. "It's for every player, every staff member, everyone involved in the club, and especially the supporters," Van Graan said. "We spoke about connection and what I saw before the game when we got off that bus was one of the best experiences I've had in the game." The victory completed a superb treble this season after Bath earlier bagged the Premiership Cup and European Challenge Cup. "Winning the Challenge Cup was brilliant but at the start of the year the goal was to win the Premiership," said flyhalf Finn Russell. "It's special. This group, the city, the club deserves it. The work we've put in over the last few years and then what we do on the pitch is try to represent the city as best we can. "After last year's defeat, we bounced back really quickly and we managed to get the job done." Russell looked certain to score an interception try in the second half but then threw a pass to supporting Max Ojomoh, drawing gasps from the astonished Twickenham crowd. "He's a kid from Bath that grew up watching his dad (England and Bath flanker Steve) lifting this trophy, Russell said. "Giving him a little bit of limelight in the final was nice." Veteran scrumhalf Ben Spencer, a title winner with Saracens, said: "What we've done this year, to win three trophies like we have, is unbelievable. "When Johann came in, he completely turned this place around. We've got a really good group around him in terms of coaches, in terms of staff and we've gone from there and I think we've gone from strength to strength. "I'm not sure there's enough time to say what he brings. He has an unbelievable ability to stay calm at all times. At halftime he's great and we've had a really good ability to start from zero. "His ability to deal with people - 60-odd players who want to play every week - is amazing. The togetherness and strength of this group is just that - the group." Leicester coach Michael Cheika was proud of his team's effort but, not for the first time, was unhappy with the officials, who heavily penalised his team and sent two players to the sin bin. "The calls through the game went against us, the scrum calls were incredible, honestly, and some of the foul play ones. Dominating like that and getting nothing," said the Australian as his one-season stint came to a frustrating end. "Of course I'm slightly biased, but it was frustrating and when you come out of a final having scored more tries than the opposition it says something. "But I love this group of guys, and love the club and I'm so proud of the players for the way they came in there and stayed in it right to the end. We gave ourselves a chance to win it right at the end, but unfortunately it didn't go our way."
Rhyl Journal
2 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Bath's Ben Spencer says ‘the sky's the limit' after they wrap up historic treble
Leicester came up just short of a fairytale farewell for scrum-half Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole, who have both called time on their careers after this season and were introduced after the break. Bath held on after a late Tigers surge narrowed the deficit to two points – despite going down to 14 men after Cole was controversially sent to the sin bin – through a late Emeka Ilione try to raise the Twickenham tension. TREBLE COMPLETE 🏆🏆🏆@BathRugby are #GallagherPrem champions 🎆#GallagherPremFinal — Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) June 14, 2025 'Just relief, pride,' said Spencer, when asked to sum up his feelings. 'This has taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people. Relief not just for me, but for the players, the staff, and the fans. The fans are a massive part of why I joined the club. 'I think the future of this club is unbelievably bright, no matter who pulls on the shirt. I can't speak highly enough of the guys coming through. Their work ethic is second to none, and as long as we keep our feet on the floor and wanting to get better, the sky's the limit for this team.' Bath's tries came from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh on what became a brilliant afternoon for Scotland's Finn Russell, who overcame early frustrations to kick 13 points, also teeing up Ojomoh after snatching an interception from inside his own half. Jack van Poortvliet opened the scoring with a try for Leicester, while second-half tries from Solomone Kata and Ilione nearly sparked a comeback. Handre Pollard added three Leicester conversions but the World Cup-winning South African fly-half will rue what might have been after a rare penalty miss. Bath Rugby are Premiership Champions!! 🔵⚫️⚪️ — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 14, 2025 Tigers twice had men sent to the sin bin – departing captain Julian Montoya late in the first half, while Cole's swansong concluded unceremoniously with a controversial yellow. Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: 'Our whole focus this season was on winning the Premiership. We gave ourselves that goal, kept that within the circle.' The South African coach said he would now pause for a moment of reflection before focusing on next season. He added: 'The day you stand still is the day somebody catches you. You must always train like number two because the other guys are coming. The best is yet to come.' A season we will never forget. Fighting until the very end for one another. #COYT 🐯 — Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 14, 2025 Leicester head coach Michael Cheika – to be replaced by Geoff Parling – will leave this summer at the end of his one-year contract, in addition to Argentina hooker Montoya, Pollard and former England back Mike Brown. And although he felt he would get himself 'in strife' for disclosing what he felt about some of the decisions that went against his side – vowing to take it up with the RFU's officiating chief Paul Hull as a 'final bit of banter' – Cheika was delighted by his team's resilience and felt the future of the club was bright. He added: 'I feel like if we can take those things that are intangible around belief and the standards you need to have to be able to compete, then it won't be long before they are on that podium themselves.'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Bath's Ben Spencer says ‘the sky's the limit' after they wrap up historic treble
Leicester came up just short of a fairytale farewell for scrum-half Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole, who have both called time on their careers after this season and were introduced after the break. Bath held on after a late Tigers surge narrowed the deficit to two points – despite going down to 14 men after Cole was controversially sent to the sin bin – through a late Emeka Ilione try to raise the Twickenham tension. 'Just relief, pride,' said Spencer, when asked to sum up his feelings. 'This has taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people. Relief not just for me, but for the players, the staff, and the fans. The fans are a massive part of why I joined the club. 'I think the future of this club is unbelievably bright, no matter who pulls on the shirt. I can't speak highly enough of the guys coming through. Their work ethic is second to none, and as long as we keep our feet on the floor and wanting to get better, the sky's the limit for this team.' Bath's tries came from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh on what became a brilliant afternoon for Scotland's Finn Russell, who overcame early frustrations to kick 13 points, also teeing up Ojomoh after snatching an interception from inside his own half. Jack van Poortvliet opened the scoring with a try for Leicester, while second-half tries from Solomone Kata and Ilione nearly sparked a comeback. Handre Pollard added three Leicester conversions but the World Cup-winning South African fly-half will rue what might have been after a rare penalty miss. Bath Rugby are Premiership Champions!! 🔵⚫️⚪️ — Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) June 14, 2025 Tigers twice had men sent to the sin bin – departing captain Julian Montoya late in the first half, while Cole's swansong concluded unceremoniously with a controversial yellow. Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: 'Our whole focus this season was on winning the Premiership. We gave ourselves that goal, kept that within the circle.' The South African coach said he would now pause for a moment of reflection before focusing on next season. He added: 'The day you stand still is the day somebody catches you. You must always train like number two because the other guys are coming. The best is yet to come.' A season we will never forget. Fighting until the very end for one another. #COYT 🐯 — Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) June 14, 2025 Leicester head coach Michael Cheika – to be replaced by Geoff Parling – will leave this summer at the end of his one-year contract, in addition to Argentina hooker Montoya, Pollard and former England back Mike Brown. And although he felt he would get himself 'in strife' for disclosing what he felt about some of the decisions that went against his side – vowing to take it up with the RFU's officiating chief Paul Hull as a 'final bit of banter' – Cheika was delighted by his team's resilience and felt the future of the club was bright. He added: 'I feel like if we can take those things that are intangible around belief and the standards you need to have to be able to compete, then it won't be long before they are on that podium themselves.'
