Latest news with #JohannVanGraan
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Premiership finale - five teams in play-off hunt
Five teams go into the Premiership's dramatic final day still in with a chance of joining table toppers Bath in this season's play-offs and of winning the title at Twickenham in two weeks' Sale, Bristol, Gloucester and Saracens could remarkably all still finish anywhere from second to sixth as they go into the weekend separated by just five points after 17 matches. Johann van Graan's Bath side have come back from last season's final defeat against Northampton with a vengeance, winning 14 games this term and leading the table by 15 is Bath's dominance so far they secured top of the table and a home semi-final at the Recreation Ground with three rounds of games to go and will play whoever finishes fourth on Friday, 6 June, while second will host third on Saturday, 7 something riding on all five games that all kick-off at 15:05 BST this Saturday, here's what each club needs to do - and in some cases hope for outside of their control - to seal a semi-final spot. Second: Leicester - 56 points, 10 wins For the Tigers, the task is simple - beat Newcastle at home and second place in the table along with a home semi-final is theirs. One point is enough to secure the top league's most successful side are on the prowl for their record-extending 12th title and have a two-point cushion over third-placed have the most amount of wiggle room if they do lose and drop points, as at least three results would need to go against them for them to drop out of the top they will be confident of getting the job done against a Falcons side who have won just two league matches in the past two seasons and finished rock bottom of the table in both. Third: Sale - 54 points, 11 wins If the Tigers do slip up, the Sharks will be visit Exeter, with the Chiefs already assured of a ninth-placed finish and nothing to play for on the day.A repeat of December's win over the Chiefs and Alex Sanderson's team will cement third place regardless of other results. A loss with two bonus points would still be enough for the top been 19 years since the club's sole Premiership the Manchester side have a trick up their sleeve in that they have the most league wins of any club aside from Bath, meaning if they end the season on the same number of points as any of their competitors, they would finish above them by virtue of having more league Sharks also have England fly-half George Ford arriving at the end of the season in stunning form as they have won three of their past four Premiership the unlikely event that Tigers draw and Sale win, or Leicester lose and Sale draw, the two sides could finish level on points but with Sale on top. Fourth: Bristol - 53 points, nine wins Currently occupying the final play-off spot are Pat Lam's Bristol Bears and they face a highly unpredictable Harlequins would guarantee a top four finish but anything less than that and the Bears will be looking over their shoulders, with Gloucester and Saracens ready to Gate holds a special place in the hearts of Quins fans as the scene of their epic semi-final fightback victory at "Bristanbul" in 2021 en-route to claiming their second Premiership slip-ups at Welford Road for Leicester and Sandy Park for Sale would mean Bristol could still yet finish second and book in another memorable home semi-final. Fifth: Gloucester - 51 points, nine wins Gloucester go into the game knowing nothing less than victory over reigning champions Northampton will that and they will only need one of Leicester, Sale or Bristol to lose without any bonus points and they sneak into the top four at the finish what would be an astonishing story, the Cherry and Whites could mathematically still secure a home semi-final at Kingsholm if they all suffer defeat and pick up no bonus they were to secure a bonus-point victory over Saints they would jump up to 56 points, level with both teams would have 10 wins, Gloucester would likely finish above the Tigers due to their superior points difference (currently Gloucester +74, Leicester +72).Northampton have suffered a disappointing defence of the title they won last season but fly-half Fin Smith and co have shown the immense quality they possess in their run to the European Champions Cup final last weekend. Sixth: Saracens - 51 points, nine wins Saracens' host Bath at StoneX Stadium with their destiny out of their hands as they bid to avoid missing out on the top four for only the third time since two occasions were 2020 when they were relegated in the wake of the salary cap scandal and the following season when they played in the second has been a season of rebuilding for Mark McCall and his coaching staff after the departures of legendary players including Owen Farrell and Billy and Mako Vunipola last summer, while full-back Alex Goode has announced he would retire at the end of the season after making a Sarries record 400th appearance earlier this play-off hopes were struck a huge blow at Northampton a fortnight ago with Tarek Haffar's last-second try stealing a 28-24 victory for the Saints that left the Men in Black's hopes task is similar to that of Gloucester, as they go into the game with the same number of points and wins as they Cherry and Whites, but they have a substantially lower points difference of +30. They need results above to go their way and to win by a big margin to have any hope although they are facing a substantially lower strength Bath side who are fielding seven debutants in their matchday 23.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
McConnochie and Schreuder to leave Bath this summer
Winger Ruaridh McConnochie and scrum-half Louis Schreuder will leave Bath following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Former England wing McConnochie is to retire and move into coaching after spending the past seven seasons playing for the club. The 33-year-old former Great Britain sevens player has scored 30 tries in 96 matches for Bath so African Schreuder, who won one cap for the Springboks, signed for Bath in 2022 from Newcastle."Ruaridh is one of the best human beings I have coached," head of rugby Johann van Graan said. "As a player, he is always diligent and always gives 100% regardless of the circumstances. Ruaridh made a massive contribution in the three years I have been at the club, and he will finish his playing career as a respected and valued leader and player."I have been very fortunate to coach Louis, both at Bath and with the Springboks. He is an excellent team man and has helped rebuild this club of ours since 11 July 2022." McConnochie began his career in rugby sevens and won a silver medal as part of the Great Britain team at the 2016 Olympics and gold for England at the 2016 World Rugby Sevens joined Bath in 2018 after switching codes to union and won his two England caps in 2019, scoring a try at the World Cup that said it was the "right time" to step off the playing field. "I appreciate not every player has the ability to retire on their own terms, and so after much thought, I feel very lucky to be able to make the call myself," he said."Now into the world of coaching and education I go, with some life-changing memories and experiences to look back on." Schreuder, 35, has made 62 appearances for Bath in all competitions in his three seasons with the club and has not confirmed if he will continue playing beyond this season. "The last three years have been a privilege and pleasure at this club. I am grateful to have worked with so many special people and players along the way," he said."The club is in a very good place, and the best is yet to come."
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Sam Underhill ruled OUT of Bath's Gallagher Premiership title bid due to four-week ban for dangerous tackling
Bath's bid to claim the Gallagher Premiership title and complete an historic treble has been hit after key man Sam Underhill was ruled out of the end-of-season play-offs by a ban. Johann van Graan's side are favourites for domestic glory having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The second of those successes came against Lyon in Cardiff last Friday in a game in which England flanker Underhill was yellow carded for dangerous tackling. Referee Hollie Davidson somehow failed to send Underhill from the field despite him recklessly colliding head-on-head with Lyon's Georgian back Davit Niniashvili. Instead, Davidson sent Underhill to the sin bin for 10 minutes. But after the Principality Stadium clash, Underhill was cited and an independent disciplinary panel on Wednesday confirmed a four-week suspension. It means the tough-tackling back-row won't play again this season, missing his team's home Premiership semi-final a week on Friday. Underhill would also be unavailable to play in the league's final, if Bath make it that far. It is undoubtedly a big blow to Bath's hopes. Underhill is a certain starter for head of rugby Van Graan if fit and could also miss the start of England's summer tour of the Americas. As runaway league leaders, Bath have already secured a home semi-final with one round of the regular Premiership season still to come on Saturday. Van Graan's side were beaten in last year's final at Twickenham by Northampton Saints, but are in a good position to go one further in this campaign even without Underhill. Guy Pepper is the most likely player to step in for Bath at No 7.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bath's European Cup win a 'long time coming'
Bath captain Ben Spencer said their European Challenge Cup trophy win has been "building" for some time. Bath overpowered French Top14 side Lyon 34-12 on Friday to claim their first European trophy in 17 years at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Premiership leaders scored four tries and survived an ill-disciplined first half which saw two players sin-binned to comfortably beat their French opponents. "Tonight's performance was something that's been building for a very long time," Spencer said. "To see the hunger, to see the fight of this group was unbelievable. "The way we managed the double yellow card period to keep them out at the end of the first half, that's the fight and the spirit that we want to show each other." Bath overpower Lyon to win European Challenge Cup Relive live: European Rugby Challenge Cup final Bath - as it happened Bath's last major piece of silverware came at the same European competition in 2008, when England head coach Steve Borthwick captained the club. Bath remain in the running for a treble this season, following domestic success in February with the Premiership Rugby Cup and with them favourites to clinch Premiership title. Fly-half Finn Russell, whose signing in 2023 has been a major factor in Bath's transformation under head of rugby Johann van Graan, said the victory was a "big step in the right direction" of where the club want to get to. Russell kicked four conversions and three penalties on the night to win his first major European title after twice losing Champions Cup finals with former club Racing 92. "It's been a long time coming for Bath getting a title like this and as a group of players we've worked so hard to get where we are just now," Russell told BBC Points West. "The work's not done yet, but we've worked so hard to get this trophy and it's amazing to have it." Hooker and Bath stalwart Tom Dunn, who made his debut in 2012, agreed this was not the end of Bath. "There's no end to this. We talk about continuous improvement," he said. "The hunger and fire has been there as long as I can remember. We've always wanted, we've always trained hard to create that." While Lyon scored first through Ethan Dumortier's try, Bath took the lead with Dunn and Max Ojomoh scores and navigated a tricky end to the first-half when they were briefly reduced to 13 players following Sam Underhill and Will Muir's yellow cards. Arno Botha pulled another back for Lyon but Bath ended the night comfortable winners as tries from Beno Obano and Spencer took them out of sight. Lyon coach Karim Ghezal said one of Bath's yellow cards was "rather dodgy" but that he would not complain about refereeing. "We didn't score when they were down to 13. They had two yellow cards," he said. "Bath is a very strong team and we knew they were very effective so we need to face the facts." Bath now face another huge two weeks as the Premiership season reaches its conclusion. They travel to Saracens on Saturday, 31 May for the final round of the competition, before a home semi-final at the Recreation Ground on Friday, 6 June for a place in the Twickenham final. Van Graan said the Challenge Cup trophy was a credit to every player a staff member involved at the club, and that they are enjoying their "journey" together. "We'll enjoy [Friday], we'll enjoy what this trophy represents - incredible hard work by a lot of people - and then we'll come back on Tuesday morning and we'll move on again," Van Graan said. "We're not chasing anything, we are enjoying our journey together." Additional reporting by Alistair Durden.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Bath's European Cup win a 'long time coming'
Bath captain Ben Spencer said their European Challenge Cup trophy win has been "building" for some overpowered French Top14 side Lyon 34-12 on Friday to claim their first European trophy in 17 years at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The Premiership leaders scored four tries and survived an ill-disciplined first half which saw two players sin-binned to comfortably beat their French opponents."Tonight's performance was something that's been building for a very long time," Spencer said. "To see the hunger, to see the fight of this group was unbelievable. "The way we managed the double yellow card period to keep them out at the end of the first half, that's the fight and the spirit that we want to show each other." Bath's last major piece of silverware came at the same European competition in 2008, when England head coach Steve Borthwick captained the club. Bath remain in the running for a treble this season, following domestic success in February with the Premiership Rugby Cup and with them favourites to clinch Premiership Finn Russell, whose signing in 2023 has been a major factor in Bath's transformation under head of rugby Johann van Graan, said the victory was a "big step in the right direction" of where the club want to get to. Russell kicked four conversions and three penalties on the night to win his first major European title after twice losing Champions Cup finals with former club Racing 92."It's been a long time coming for Bath getting a title like this and as a group of players we've worked so hard to get where we are just now," Russell told BBC Points West. "The work's not done yet, but we've worked so hard to get this trophy and it's amazing to have it."Hooker and Bath stalwart Tom Dunn, who made his debut in 2012, agreed this was not the end of Bath. "There's no end to this. We talk about continuous improvement," he said."The hunger and fire has been there as long as I can remember. We've always wanted, we've always trained hard to create that." While Lyon scored first through Ethan Dumortier's try, Bath took the lead with Dunn and Max Ojomoh scores and navigated a tricky end to the first-half when they were briefly reduced to 13 players following Sam Underhill and Will Muir's yellow Botha pulled another back for Lyon but Bath ended the night comfortable winners as tries from Beno Obano and Spencer took them out of coach Karim Ghezal said one of Bath's yellow cards was "rather dodgy" but that he would not complain about refereeing."We didn't score when they were down to 13. They had two yellow cards," he said."Bath is a very strong team and we knew they were very effective so we need to face the facts."Bath now face another huge two weeks as the Premiership season reaches its conclusion. They travel to Saracens on Saturday, 31 May for the final round of the competition, before a home semi-final at the Recreation Ground on Friday, 6 June for a place in the Twickenham final. Van Graan said the Challenge Cup trophy was a credit to every player a staff member involved at the club, and that they are enjoying their "journey" together."We'll enjoy [Friday], we'll enjoy what this trophy represents - incredible hard work by a lot of people - and then we'll come back on Tuesday morning and we'll move on again," Van Graan said."We're not chasing anything, we are enjoying our journey together."Additional reporting by Alistair Durden.
