Bath Rugby’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, has revealed the club’s pre-season plans ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, with three confirmed friendly fixtures lined up despite scheduling overlaps with the PREM Rugby Cup.
Demonstrating his hands-on approach since joining in 2022, van Graan continues to prioritise structured pre-season camps to optimise player readiness. This year, Bath will travel to France for their opening game against Top 14 side Perpignan at Stade Aimé Giral on Thursday, 27 August (kick-off 7:30pm local time).
Following the French outing, Bath will return to England to face Championship team Bedford Blues at Goldington Road on Friday, 11 September (kick-off 7:30pm). This marks their second meeting this year after Bath’s emphatic 94-14 victory earlier in March at the Recreation Ground.
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The pre-season trio concludes with a fixture against Glasgow Warriors of the United Rugby Championship at Old Anniesland on Friday, 18 September (kick-off 7:30pm), offering a competitive test in a unique venue.
Van Graan’s decision to run a separate pre-season programme, distinct from the PREM Rugby Cup—which begins the weekend of 25 September—allows him to better manage player workload and squad rotation without the constraints of naming a fixed 23-man match-day roster. When previous clashes occurred, he fielded developmental squads in the PREM Cup while reserving key internationals for targeted pre-season matches, striking a balance between competitive preparation and player welfare.
With the Gallagher Premiership fixtures due for release on 28 July, Bath’s carefully planned pre-season schedule sets the tone for a focused start under van Graan’s leadership.
Pre-Season Fixtures:
- Perpignan v Bath Rugby: Thursday, 27 August, 19:30, Stade Aimé Giral
- Bedford Blues v Bath Rugby: Friday, 11 September, 19:30, Goldington Road
- Glasgow Warriors v Bath Rugby: Friday, 18 September, 19:30, Old Anniesland