Bath Rugby has officially confirmed that South African loosehead prop Francois van Wyk will leave the club at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. The 34-year-old will be joining Connacht Rugby in Ireland, adding the United Rugby Championship to his extensive playing career starting from the 2026/27 campaign.
Van Wyk joined Bath in the summer of 2024 and quickly established himself as a key player under head coach Johann van Graan, making 41 appearances for the club so far. His career spans top competitions including the Gallagher Premiership, where he played for Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, as well as Super Rugby with the Western Force.
During his tenure at Bath, van Wyk played a vital role in their historic treble-winning season, helping the team secure the Gallagher Premiership, EPCR Challenge Cup, and Premiership Rugby Cup titles. His departure leaves a significant gap in Bath’s front row options, especially considering Springbok teammate Thomas du Toit is also set to leave for the Sharks. This shift leaves Beno Obano as the club’s primary international-level prop, with Mikey Summerfield and Scott Kirk as emerging prospects.
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Expressing his thoughts on the move, van Wyk shared with Connacht media: “I’m excited about joining Connacht and embracing a new challenge in a new league. At this stage in my career, the chance to experience a different country and rugby culture is very appealing. From all my conversations with the team, I believe I can positively contribute to the squad and help drive success in the West of Ireland.”
Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster praised van Wyk’s qualities, saying, “Francois is a powerful scrummager with immense physicality and a wealth of experience at the highest levels of Northern Hemisphere rugby. He has been integral to Bath’s recent success, and we are eager to see the impact he will have on our squad next season.”