Tom Dunn and captain Ben Spencer have made it clear that Bath Rugby’s ambition extends far beyond their recent EPCR Challenge Cup victory. Following their impressive 37-12 win against Lyon last Friday in Cardiff, the team is eager to build on this success and chase even greater achievements.
The Challenge Cup triumph adds another prestigious trophy to Bath’s collection, complementing their earlier victory in the Premiership Rugby Cup. With a strong season ensuring a home Premiership play-off spot in April—potentially facing local rivals Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground on June 6—Bath stands just two wins away from capturing the league title.
This turnaround highlights a remarkable transformation since Johann van Graan took over as head of rugby from Munster less than three years ago. Back in 2022, Bath struggled at the bottom of the Premiership, enduring 18 league losses and finishing 60 points behind leaders Leicester.
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Tom Dunn, a decade-long Bath veteran and the club’s most capped Premiership player, reflects on this resurgence: “The hunger has been there for as long as I can remember. This isn’t the end—it never will be. The drive is enormous, fueled especially by those not currently on the field. They push us during training and constantly raise the standards, setting the vision for our weekend performances.”
Dunn also praised the pivotal influence of England international scrum-half Ben Spencer, whose player-of-the-match performance against Lyon exemplified his impact. “Ben is outstanding,” said Dunn. “He leads by example—always giving 100%, chasing every kick, anchoring our defence, and setting the match tempo. While players like me ‘push the piano,’ he plays it beautifully. His decision-making, skill, and precision inspire the whole team.”
Currently 15 points clear at the top of the Premiership, Bath faces Saracens in their final regular-season fixture next weekend. Attention will then shift to the playoffs, with Bath aiming to return to Allianz Stadium following last year’s narrow 25-21 final defeat against Northampton.
Reflecting on the Challenge Cup win, Spencer remarked, “This victory is the result of long-term hard work, and the passion in this team is incredible. Moments like these are rare and must be cherished. But we’re hungry to improve further, and by Tuesday, we’ll reset to zero—something we always talk about.”